Skimming Takes the Best Off the Top
To skim is to remove floating matter, or to read quickly. Both senses take only the surface.
To skim is to remove floating matter from a liquid, to move lightly over a surface, or to read superficially. All three keep the same image of touching only the top. The dairy sense is the original: cream rises, and skimming it off leaves skimmed milk. From that came skimming profits, skimming a stone across water, and skimming a document. The word is probably from Old French *escumer*, to remove scum, and *scum* and *skim* are relatives.
- To remove from the surface. *Skimming the cream.*
- To read quickly. *Skimming the report.*
- To move lightly over. *Skimming the water.*
- To steal a little. *Skimming the takings.*
- Old French — *escumer*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | skim | Skimming. |
| Past | skimmed | Skimmed. |
| Noun | skimmer | A skimmer. |
| Adjective | skimmed | Skimmed milk. |
| Related | scum | Scum. |
- Skim the fat off the stock.Cooking.
- He skimmed the article.Reading.
- She skimmed a stone.Motion.
Ways of reading
- Skim — take the gist from the surface
- Scan — search for a specific item
- Peruse — strictly, to read thoroughly, though often misused
- Pore over — study intently and at length
- Skim and scan are frequently confused
Probably from Old French *escumer*, to remove scum, from *escume*, scum.
What is the difference between skimming and scanning?
Skimming takes the general gist from the surface; scanning searches for one specific piece of information.
Is scum related to skim?
Yes. Both come from the same French word for the froth on a liquid's surface.