Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Skim \Skim\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Skimmed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Skimming}.] [Cf. Sw. skymma to darken. [root]158. See
   {Scum}.]
   1. To clear (a liquid) from scum or substance floating or
      lying thereon, by means of a utensil that passes just
      beneath the surface; as, to skim milk; to skim broth.

   2. To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream.

   3. To pass near the surface of; to brush the surface of; to
      glide swiftly along the surface of.

            Homer describes Mercury as flinging himself from the
            top of Olympus, and skimming the surface of the
            ocean.                                --Hazlitt.

   4. Fig.: To read or examine superficially and rapidly, in
      order to cull the principal facts or thoughts; as, to skim
      a book or a newspaper.

Skimming \Skim"ming\, n.
   1. The act of one who skims.

   2. That which is skimmed from the surface of a liquid; --
      chiefly used in the plural; as, the skimmings of broth.

Source : WordNet®

skim
     v 1: travel on the surface of water [syn: {plane}]
     2: move or pass swiftly and lightly over the surface of [syn: {skim
        over}]
     3: examine hastily; "She scanned the newspaper headlines while
        waiting for the taxi" [syn: {scan}, {rake}, {glance over},
         {run down}]
     4: cause to skip over a surface; "Skip a stone across the pond"
        [syn: {skip}, {skitter}]
     5: coat (a liquid) with a layer
     6: remove from the surface; "skim cream from the surface of
        milk" [syn: {skim off}, {cream off}, {cream}]
     7: read superficially [syn: {skim over}]
     [also: {skimming}, {skimmed}]

skimming
     n 1: the act of removing floating material from the surface of a
          liquid
     2: reading or glancing through quickly [syn: {skim}]
     3: failure to declare income in order to avoid paying taxes on
        it
     4: the act of brushing against while passing [syn: {grazing}, {shaving}]

skim
     n 1: a thin layer covering the surface of a liquid; "there was a
          thin skim of oil on the water"
     2: reading or glancing through quickly [syn: {skimming}]
     [also: {skimming}, {skimmed}]

skim
     adj : used of milk and milk products from which the cream has been
           removed; "yogurt made with skim milk"; "she can drink
           skimmed milk but should avoid butter" [syn: {skimmed}]
     [also: {skimming}, {skimmed}]

skimming
     See {skim}