skimmer

noun, verb — 15 senses

skimmer

noun

Etymology From skim + -er.

13 senses
  1. 1A sieve-like, slotted spoon.
  2. 2A device for removing organic matter from an aquarium.
  3. 3A device used to read and record the magnetic code from…
  4. 4A person who skims.
  5. 5Any of three species of bird, in the genus Rynchops of…
  6. 6Any of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for…
  7. 7A ballet flat shoe.
  8. 8A loose-fitting one-piece dress, similar to a shift but…
  9. 9Any of the dragonflies in the family Libellulidae.
  10. 10A sailor in the surface forces, as opposed to a submariner.
  11. 11A surface ship.
  12. 12A small, fast-moving spacecraft.
  13. 13Synonym of water strider.

› A device that skims.

1

A sieve-like, slotted spoon.

2

A device for removing organic matter from an aquarium.

3

A device used to read and record the magnetic code from a credit card for later fraudulent use.

4

A person who skims.

  • Perhaps the greatest stone skimmer is Scotland's own Dougie Isaacs, who has won eight world titles.2023, Richard Deitsch, The Year's Best Sports Writing 2023:
5

Any of three species of bird, in the genus Rynchops of the family Laridae, that feed by skimming the surface of water bodies with their bills in flight.

6

Any of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for skimming milk, such as the sea clam (Spisula solidissima) and large scallops.

7

A ballet flat shoe.

8

A loose-fitting one-piece dress, similar to a shift but with slightly more fitting.

  • Classic, box-pleated skimmers and pantdresses stay crisp and fresh, won't wrinkle or wilt!1969, The New York Times Magazine (part 3)
  • The utilization of divided dart control—some stitched and some unstitched—is the basis of semifitted styles such as the shift or skimmer dress.2006, Adele P. Margolis, Judy Skoogfors, Make Your Own Dress Patterns, page 73:
1 more example
  • Slightly A-line, princess-cut “skimmers” were popular as dresses in summer and jumpers in winter.2009, Phyllis G. Tortora, Keith Eubank, Survey of Historic Costume, page 572:
9

Biology, Entomology, Natural sciences Any of the dragonflies in the family Libellulidae.

10

Government, Military, Naval, Navy, Politics, War A sailor in the surface forces, as opposed to a submariner.

11

Government, Military, Naval, Navy, Politics, War A surface ship.

12

Literature, Media, Publishing, Science fiction A small, fast-moving spacecraft.

  • Kondric stood beside the skimmer for a moment, looking back at his warriors. They shouted and banged their swords on their shields. He raised his hand in farewell, and followed Violet into the cabin.2015, Aurora Springer, Grand Master's Pawn:
  • They said no one landed on other planets. They said there was no such thing as a skimmer. Rocky hadn't believed them. They didn't know everything. He wished they could see the skimmer.2000, Carlie Simonsen, Rocky to the Rescue, page 2:
13

Synonym of water strider.

Synonyms
scissorbill
Derived terms
African skimmer, black skimmer, Indian skimmer, blue skimmer, fiery skimmer, hydroskimmer, neon skimmer, sea skimmer, slender skimmer, spider skimmer

skimmer

verb

Etymology Northern variant of shimmer.

1

To shimmer.

2

To move quickly, to flutter.

  • …he was bounding over the heads of the maidens, and making his feet skimmer against the ceiling, enjoying, the while, the most ecstatic emotions.1824, James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, Oxford, published 2010, page 9:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.