2 N‑UNCOUNT Skill is the knowledge and ability that enables you to do something well. □ [+ of ] The cut of a diamond depends on the skill of its craftsman.
skilled /sk I ld/
1 ADJ Someone who is skilled has the knowledge and ability to do something well. □ [+ in/at ] Not all doctors are skilled in helping their patients make choices.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Skilled work can only be done by people who have had some training. □ New industries demanded skilled labour not available locally.
skil|let /sk I l I t/ (skillets ) N‑COUNT A skillet is a shallow iron pan which is used for frying.
skill|ful /sk I lfʊl/ → see skilful
skim /sk I m/ (skims , skimming , skimmed )
1 VERB If you skim something from the surface of a liquid, you remove it. □ [V n + off/from ] Rough seas today prevented specially equipped ships from skimming oil off the water's surface. □ [V n with off ] Skim off the fat.
2 VERB If something skims a surface, it moves quickly along just above it. □ [V n] …seagulls skimming the waves. □ [V + over/across ] The little boat was skimming across the sunlit surface of the bay.
3 VERB If you skim a piece of writing, you read through it quickly. □ [V n] He skimmed the pages quickly, then read them again more carefully. □ [V + through ] I only had time to skim through the script before I flew over here.
▸ skim off PHRASAL VERB If someone skims off the best part of something, or money which belongs to other people, they take it for themselves. □ [V n P n] He has been accused of skimming the cream off the economy. □ [V P n] Rich football clubs such cannot simply skim off all the big stars.
ski mmed mi lk in AM, usually use skim milk N‑UNCOUNT Skimmed milk is milk from which the cream has been removed.
skimp /sk I mp/ (skimps , skimping , skimped ) VERB If you skimp on something, you use less time, money, or material for it than you really need, so that the result is not good enough. □ [V + on ] Many families must skimp on their food and other necessities just to meet the monthly rent.
skimpy /sk I mpi/ (skimpier , skimpiest ) ADJ Something that is skimpy is too small in size or quantity. □ …skimpy underwear.
skin ◆◆◇ /sk I n/ (skins , skinning , skinned )
1 N‑VAR Your skin is the natural covering of your body. □ His skin is clear and smooth. □ There are three major types of skin cancer. □ The only difference between us is the colour of our skins.
2 N‑VAR An animal skin is skin which has been removed from a dead animal. Skins are used to make things such as coats and rugs. □ That was real crocodile skin.
3 N‑VAR The skin of a fruit or vegetable is its outer layer or covering. □ [+ of ] The outer skin of the orange is called the 'zest'. □ …banana skins.
4 N‑SING If a skin forms on the surface of a liquid, a thin, fairly solid layer forms on it. □ Stir the custard occasionally to prevent a skin forming.
5 VERB If you skin a dead animal, you remove its skin. □ [V n] …with the expertise of a chef skinning a rabbit.
6 → see also -skinned , banana skin
7 PHRASE If you do something by the skin of your teeth , you just manage to do it. □ He won, but only by the skin of his teeth.
8 PHRASE If you say that someone has a thick skin , you mean that they are able to listen to criticism about themselves without becoming offended. □ You need a thick skin to be a headmaster.
9 to make your skin crawl → see crawl
ski n care also skincare N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Skin care involves keeping your skin clean, healthy-looking, and attractive. □ …a unique range of natural skincare products.
ski n dee p also skin-deep ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Something that is only skin deep is not a major or important feature of something, although it may appear to be. □ Beauty is only skin deep.
skin|flint /sk I nfl I nt/ (skinflints ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a skinflint , you are saying that they are a mean person who hates spending money. [DISAPPROVAL ]
skin|head /sk I nhed/ (skinheads ) N‑COUNT A skinhead is a young person whose hair is shaved or cut very short. Skinheads are usually regarded as violent and aggressive. [BRIT ]
skin|less /sk I nləs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Skinless meat has had its skin removed. □ …skinless chicken breast fillets.
-skinned /-sk I nd/ COMB -skinned is used after adjectives such as 'dark' and 'clear' to form adjectives that indicate what kind of skin someone has. □ Dark-skinned people rarely develop skin cancer. □ She was smooth-skinned and pretty.
skin|ny /sk I ni/ (skinnier , skinniest ) ADJ A skinny person is extremely thin, often in a way that you find unattractive. [INFORMAL ] □ He was quite a skinny little boy.
ski nny-dip (skinny-dips , skinny-dipping , skinny-dipped ) also skinny dip VERB If you skinny-dip , you go swimming with no clothes on. [INFORMAL ] □ [V ] They used to take off their clothes and go skinny dipping in the creek.
skint /sk I nt/ ADJ If you say that you are skint , you mean that you have no money. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ I'm skint! Lend us a tenner.