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skimming

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skim⋅ming

  [skim-ing]
–noun
1. Usually, skimmings. something that is removed by skimming.
2. skimmings, Metallurgy. dross.
3. Slang. the practice of concealing gambling or other profits so as to avoid paying taxes, commissions, etc.
Use skimming in a Sentence
Origin:
1400–50; late ME skemmyng. See skim, -ing 1
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skim

  [skim] verb, skimmed, skim⋅ming, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to take up or remove (floating matter) from the surface of a liquid, as with a spoon or ladle: to skim the cream from milk.
2. to clear (liquid) thus: to skim milk.
3. to move or glide lightly over or along (a surface, as of water): The sailboat skimmed the lake.
4. to throw in a smooth, gliding path over or near a surface, or so as to bounce or ricochet along a surface: to skim a stone across the lake.
5. to read, study, consider, treat, etc., in a superficial or cursory manner.
6. to cover, as a liquid, with a thin film or layer: Ice skimmed the lake at night.
7. to take the best or most available parts or items from: Bargain hunters skimmed the flea markets early in the morning.
8. to take (the best or most available parts or items) from something: The real bargains had been skimmed by early shoppers.
9. Metallurgy. to remove (slag, scum, or dross) from the surface of molten metal.
10. Slang.
a. 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 fol. by off): The casino skimmed two million a year.
b. to take, remove, or appropriate for illegal use: to skim information from another's credit card.
–verb (used without object)
11. to pass or glide lightly over or near a surface.
12. to read, study, consider, etc., something in a superficial or cursory way.
13. to become covered with a thin film or layer.
14. Slang. to conceal gambling or other profits so as to avoid paying taxes, etc.; practice skimming.
–noun
15. an act or instance of skimming.
16. something that is skimmed off.
17. a thin layer or film formed on the surface of something, esp. a liquid, as the coagulated protein material formed on boiled milk.
18. a thin layer, as of mortar.
19. Slang. the amount taken or concealed by skimming.
20. skim milk.
21. Obsolete. scum.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME skymen, skemen, var. of scumen to skim; see scum

Synonyms:
5. scan. 12. glance.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To skimming
skim   (skĭm)   
v.   skimmed, skim·ming, skims

v.   tr.

    1. To remove floating matter from (a liquid).

    2. To remove (floating matter) from a liquid.

    3. To take away the choicest or most readily attainable contents or parts from.

    4. To throw so as to bounce or slide: skimming stones on the pond.

    5. To glide or pass quickly and lightly over or along (a surface). See Synonyms at brush1.

  2. To coat or cover with or as if with a thin layer, as of scum.

    1. To throw so as to bounce or slide: skimming stones on the pond.

    2. To glide or pass quickly and lightly over or along (a surface). See Synonyms at brush1.

  4. To read or glance through (a book, for example) quickly or superficially.

  5. Slang To fail to declare part of (certain income, such as winnings) to avoid tax payment.

v.   intr.

  1. To move or pass swiftly and lightly over or near a surface; glide.

  2. To give a quick and superficial reading, scrutiny, or consideration; glance: skimmed through the newspaper.

  3. To become coated with a thin layer.

  4. Slang To fail to declare certain income to avoid tax payment.

n.  

  1. The act of skimming.

  2. Something that has been skimmed.

  3. A thin layer or film.

  4. Slang The profit gained by skimming.


[Middle English skimmen, perhaps from Old French escumer, to remove scum, from escume, scum, of Germanic origin; see (s)keu- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

skim 
c.1420 (skimmer, the utensil, is attested from c.1392), "to clear (a liquid) from matter floating on the surface," from O.Fr. escumer "remove scum," from escume (Fr. écume) "scum," from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. scum "scum," Ger. Schaum; see scum). Hence, skim milk (1596), from which the cream has been skimmed. Meaning "to glance over carelessly" (in ref. to printed matter) first recorded 1799; that of "to move over lightly and rapidly" is from 1697. Skimmer, the N.Amer. shore bird (1785), so called from its method of feeding.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

Skimming

An electronic method of capturing a victim's personal information used by identity thieves. The skimmer is a small device that scans a credit card and stores the information contained in the magnetic strip. Skimming can take place during a legitimate transaction at a business.

Investopedia Commentary

Skimming can occur easily in a restaurant because your card is taken away when the bill is being settled. If your server is a skimming identity thief, he or she will, before giving the card back to you, scan the credit card with a hand-held electronic device, which takes only seconds. The electronically captured information is then used to by the thief or sold to other criminals.

Related Links

Identity Theft: How To Avoid It
The Importance of Your Credit Rating

See also: Credit Report, Deceased Alert, Identity Theft, Phishing

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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