IPA: /skɪmp/
KK: /skɪmp/
Not enough in quantity or size; lacking in fullness or richness.
The dress was too skimp for the formal event, showing too much skin.
Comparative: skimpier
Superlative: skimpiest
To be unwilling to spend money or use resources freely; to be cheap or frugal.
He tends to skimp on groceries to save money.
Past: skimped
Past Participle: skimped
To provide less than what is needed or to do something in a careless or insufficient way.
They decided to skimp on the quality of the materials to save money.
Past: skimped
Past Participle: skimped
Skimp originates from the dialectal English word 'skimp', meaning to be stingy or to do something in a half-hearted way. It reflects a sense of inadequacy or lack of effort in providing something.
Think of someone being stingy or not giving enough — that's why 'skimp' means to do something with less than what is needed.