Definition for skimming (2 of 2)
verb (used with object), skimmed, skim·ming.
- to conceal a portion of (winnings, earnings, etc.) in order to avoid paying income taxes, commissions, or the like on the actual total revenue (sometimes followed by off): The casino skimmed two million a year.
- to take, remove, or appropriate for illegal use: to skim information from another's credit card.
verb (used without object), skimmed, skim·ming.
Origin of skim
Examples from the Web for skimming
Skimming a plethora of responses on weed website forums, it appears that they seldom do.You Can Buy Pot Here: WeedPortal.com and Marijuana’s Lawless Online Frontier|Abby Haglage|October 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Previous generations of retirees were skimming off the top of a rapidly growing surplus.Don't Have Enough to Worry About? Here's One More Thing: Low Growth May be Here to Stay.|Megan McArdle|March 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Still, some campus security consultants worry backpacks are just skimming the surface of a deeper problem.
Whisk in the flour and reduce to sauce consistency, skimming occasionally and adding more stock as necessary.
Simmer by side of fire for twenty minutes, skimming carefully.Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode|Harriet A. de Salis
Then it flies, skimming low over the furze and heather, and alights on a granite boulder similar to the one it has just left.Poachers and Poaching|John Watson
Light boats were skimming to and fro over the shallow water, whilst men and women urged onwards their flocks and laden cattle.Discoveries among the Ruins of Nineveh and Babylon|Austen H. Layard
Simmer for half an hour, skimming occasionally and, finally add a chopped pickled gherkin.
"I've tried both and quite agree with him," laughed Mac; and, skimming down another page, gave her a paragraph here and there.Rose in Bloom|Louisa May Alcott
British Dictionary definitions for skimming
verb skims, skimming or skimmed
Word Origin for skim
Word Origin and History for skimming
early 15c. (skimmer, the utensil, is attested from late 14c.), "to clear (a liquid) from matter floating on the surface, lift the scum from," from Old French escumer "remove scum," from escume (Modern French écume) "scum," from a Germanic source (cf. Old High German scum "scum," German Schaum; see scum). Meaning "to throw (a stone) so as to skip across the surface of (water) is from 1610s. Meaning "to move lightly and rapidly over the surface of" is from 1650s, from the motion involved in skimming liquid; that of "to glance over carelessly" (in reference to printed matter) recorded by 1799. Related: Skimmed; skimming.