skim

Skim is a versatile English term with several related but distinct meanings. In dairy terms, skim refers to the process of removing the cream or fat from milk, producing skim milk. The term also denotes the resulting fat-free milk itself, commonly sold as a low-fat dairy product. In fluid motion, to skim means to move swiftly and lightly across a surface, such as a stone skimming across water, or a vehicle or body gliding just above the surface without full immersion. The action can describe light contact with only a small portion of the surface.

In reading and information processing, skim refers to rapidly looking over text to grasp the main ideas or structure rather than reading in detail. Skimming is used to determine relevance or to locate information, and it is often contrasted with scanning (searching for a specific item) and thorough close reading. Effective skimming typically involves focusing on headings, topic sentences, and keywords while ignoring most details.

As a general noun, skim can refer to the thin layer or film left on a surface after a process, or to the act of skimming itself. In plastering, for example, a skim coat is a thin layer applied to even out or smooth a surface. In other contexts, skimming appears in phrases such as skim through, skim over, or skim a surface, describing light movement or superficial examination.