skimmings: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical or formal; often used in culinary, industrial, or metaphorical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “skimmings” mean?
The material removed from the surface of a liquid when skimming, such as cream from milk or impurities from broth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The material removed from the surface of a liquid when skimming, such as cream from milk or impurities from broth.
Can refer to the act or process of skimming, or metaphorically to the selection of the best or most valuable parts from something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both variants, often neutral or context-dependent.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, primarily in specialized fields.
Grammar
How to Use “skimmings” in a Sentence
skimmings of [liquid]skimmings from [source]the skimmings are [adjective]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skimmings” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She skims the milk to get the cream.
- They skim the fat off the soup.
American English
- He skims the milk to separate the cream.
- We skim the oil from the surface.
adjective
British English
- The skimmed milk is low in fat.
- Use skimmed cream for the recipe.
American English
- Skim milk is popular for diets.
- The skimmed fat is discarded.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; might metaphorically refer to profits or benefits skimmed from a deal.
Academic
Used in food science, chemistry, or environmental studies to describe skimmed materials.
Everyday
Seldom used; more common in cooking or specific hobbies.
Technical
Common in culinary arts, dairy processing, and wastewater treatment.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “skimmings”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “skimmings”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skimmings”
- Using 'skimming' as a singular noun (it's usually plural), or confusing it with 'skimmed' as an adjective.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is always plural, referring to multiple items or material skimmed off.
Rarely; it is more common in technical or specific contexts like cooking.
'Skimmings' is a neutral term for any material skimmed off, while 'scum' often has a negative connotation for impurities.
It is pronounced /ˈskɪmɪŋz/, similar to British English.
The material removed from the surface of a liquid when skimming, such as cream from milk or impurities from broth.
Skimmings is usually technical or formal; often used in culinary, industrial, or metaphorical contexts. in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'skim' meaning to remove from the surface, and '-ings' making it the things removed.
Conceptual Metaphor
Selecting the best or removing the worst; often associated with purification or extraction.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'skimmings' typically refer to?