skimmer
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A device used to read and record the magnetic code from a credit card for later fraudulent use.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
skimerSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈskɪmɚ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
crime
A device used to read and record the magnetic code from a credit card for later fraudulent use.
A person who skims.
A device for removing organic matter from an aquarium.
A sieve-like, slotted spoon.
Any of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for skimming milk, such as the sea clam (Spisula solidissima) and large scallops.
A ballet flat shoe.
verb
To shimmer.
To move quickly, to flutter.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
- Frequency
- Uncommon
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: (crime) A device used to read and record the magnetic code from a credit card for later fraudulent use.
Used this way, skimmer is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly unfavourable pull. It criticises, but without shouting.
- Emotional tone
- Negative
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Serious and weighty
- Usage feel
- Critical but measured
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
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What Does It Mean Here?
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.