skimmer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral to technical, depending on context
Quick answer
What does “skimmer” mean?
A person, device, or tool that removes a thin layer or the best part from the surface of a liquid or area.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, device, or tool that removes a thin layer or the best part from the surface of a liquid or area; a shallow basket or utensil used for skimming.
In various technical contexts: a type of bird that feeds by skimming water with its beak; a device for stealing electronic data from cards; software that quickly reads and extracts information; a type of lightweight boat designed to plane on water; a hat with a broad, flat brim.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The meanings are largely identical. 'Skimmer' as a type of flat-brimmed hat (e.g., a boater or panama) is somewhat more common in US fashion terminology. The bird family 'Rynchopidae' (skimmers) is found in both regions but is more associated with tropical and subtropical coasts globally.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'skimmer' in a non-technical context often implies a superficial or quick review (e.g., 'I just gave the report a skimmer'). In financial/security contexts, it has a strong negative connotation related to theft.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to more common use in contexts like 'card skimmer' (fraud) and 'skim' (as in skim milk).
Grammar
How to Use “skimmer” in a Sentence
NP use a skimmer to VP (remove/collect)NP install a skimmer on NPNP is fitted with a skimmerThe skimmer VP (floats/works/collects)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skimmer” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The chef used a wire skimmer to lift the dumplings from the broth.
- Conservationists were delighted to spot a black skimmer nesting on the estuary.
- Police found a sophisticated card skimmer attached to the cashpoint in Wimbledon.
American English
- He wore a white linen skimmer and seersucker suit to the summer regatta.
- The oil skimmer worked tirelessly to clean the spill in the harbor.
- Her new software acts as a PDF skimmer, extracting key metadata instantly.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost exclusively negative, referring to devices for electronic payment card fraud ('ATM skimmer').
Academic
Used in biology/ornithology for the bird species; in environmental science for oil spill remediation equipment.
Everyday
Most commonly a kitchen utensil for removing fat or foam, or a casual hat. Also used for pond maintenance tools.
Technical
Precise terms for specific devices: 'magnetic stripe skimmer', 'under-bridge inspection skimmer', 'protein skimmer' (aquariums).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “skimmer”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “skimmer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skimmer”
- Confusing 'skimmer' (noun) with 'to skim' (verb) in sentence structure (e.g., 'He used a skimmer to skim the fat').
- Using 'skimmer' to mean 'speed reader' as a person is informal and may not be widely understood.
- Misspelling as 'skimmar' or 'skimer'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Informally, yes (e.g., 'He's a skimmer, not a deep reader'), but it's not a standard, formal term. 'Speed-reader' is more common.
A skimmer is designed for surface removal (fat, foam, floating objects) and often has a shallow, flat, perforated bowl. A sieve is for draining liquids from solids by pouring through a mesh, usually deeper and bowl-shaped.
Yes, in computing, a skimmer is a program that quickly scans and extracts specific data (like prices, email addresses) from websites or documents, often for aggregation.
No. While 'card skimmer' specifically refers to an illegal device for theft, kitchen skimmers, pond skimmers, oil-spill skimmers, and the bird are all legitimate. The legality depends entirely on the purpose and context.
A person, device, or tool that removes a thin layer or the best part from the surface of a liquid or area.
Skimmer is usually neutral to technical, depending on context in register.
Skimmer: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskɪm.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskɪm.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No primary idioms, but related to the verb 'skim' as in 'skim the surface', 'skim through a book'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bird SKIMMING the water's surface. Its beak is a natural SKIMMER. A thief's device does the same to data, and a kitchen tool does it to soup.
Conceptual Metaphor
TAKING THE TOP LAYER IS A QUICK, SUPERFICIAL ACTION. This applies to reading (skimming a text), theft (skimming data/money), and physical removal (skimming cream).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'skimmer' MOST LIKELY have a positive or neutral connotation?