skim

To move quickly and lightly across or just above a surface.

• Birds skimmed the water.
• The boat skims across the waves.
• We watched swallows skimming just above the grass.

How to use it: skim over/across something (The birds skimmed across the lake.)

Similar words: glide, slide

Common phrases: skim the surface, skim over something, skim across something

To remove fat, foam, or other material from the top of a liquid.

• Skim the soup before serving.
• She skimmed the fat off the broth.
• Use a spoon to skim away any foam.

How to use it: skim something off something (Skim the fat off the soup.); skim something from something (She skimmed the foam from the stock.)

Similar words: remove, scoop off

Common phrases: skim off fat, skim the soup, skim off foam

To throw a flat object so that it bounces several times across water.

• We skimmed stones on the lake.
• Can you skim this flat pebble across the water?
• She spent the afternoon skimming stones from the riverbank.

How to use it: skim something across something (He skimmed a stone across the pond.)

Similar words: skip

Common phrases: skim stones, skim a pebble, skim across water

To hit a surface and bounce away from it at an angle.

• The ball skimmed off the wall.
• A stone skimmed off the pavement and struck the fence.
• The shot skimmed off a metal beam.

How to use it: skim off something (The bullet skimmed off the rock.)

Similar words: ricochet, glance, bounce off

Common phrases: skim off something, skim off the wall