skimming

English

Etymology

skim +‎ -ing

Verb

skimming

1. present participle and gerund of skim

Noun

skimming (countable and uncountable, plural skimmings)

1. Something skimmed from a surface etc.

   aluminium skimmings

   sorghum syrup skimmings

2. A motion or action that skims.
   • 1973, Oliver Sacks, Awakenings:

     I was forced, too, to wonder if my previous world-views had not been too pallid, too superficial, and altogether too 'rational' — mere skimmings or skatings on the surface of reality […]

3. (uncountable) The sport of skimboarding.
4. (uncountable, finance) Short for price skimming.
5. (uncountable, economics) Short for cream skimming.
   • 2013, Bernard Lo, Resolving Ethical Dilemmas: A Guide for Clinicians, page 229:

     What will be the unintended adverse effects of changes in payment? Will patient “skimming” lead to worse access for complex patients?

6. (crime) The act of fraudulently copying a magnetic stripe from a magnetic stripe card, such as found on credit cards and bank cards, through the use of a skimmer

   Coordinate terms: skimmer, shimmer, shimming

Derived terms

• sea skimming
• stone skimming