verb

skim

Translation

to skim, to scan, to cream off

I only had time to skim the report.

Skim the fat from the top of the soup.

The bird skimmed over the surface of the lake.

((sth.)) to read (sth.) quickly I need to skim this chapter before class.

((sth.)) ((from/off sth.)) to remove (sth.) from the surface of (sth.) Skim the foam off the boiling jam.

((over/across sth.)) to move lightly over (sth.) A stone skimmed across the pond.

Synonyms: scan, browse, glance over, graze

From Old French 'escumer', meaning 'to remove scum'. This relates to the idea of taking something off the top.

Imagine 'skimming' the cream off milk, or 'skimming' your eyes over a page to read it quickly.