Thesaurus: scum

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Definitions

1. v. The extraneous matter or impurities which rise to the surface of liquids in boiling or fermentation, or which form on the surface by other means; also, the scoria of metals in a molten state; dross.
2. v. refuse; recrement; anything vile or worthless.
3. v. t. To take the scum from; to clear off the impure matter from the surface of; to skim.
4. v. t. To sweep or range over the surface of.
5. v. i. To form a scum; to become covered with scum. Also used figuratively.
6. n. worthless people
7. n. a film of impurities or vegetation that can form on the surface of a liquid
8. v. remove the scum from
9. 1. The extraneous matter or impurities which rise to the surface of liquids in boiling or fermentation, or which form on the surface by other means; also, the scoria of metals in a molten state; dross. Some to remove the scum it did rise. Spenser. 2. refuse; recrement; anything vile or worthless. The great and innocent are insulted by the scum and refuse of the people. Addison. 1. To take the scum from; to clear off the impure matter from the surface of; to skim. You that scum the molten lead. Dryden & Lee. 2. To sweep or range over the surface of. [Obs.] Wandering up and down without certain seat, they lived by scumming those seas and shores as pirates. Milton. To form a scum; to become covered with scum. Also used figuratively. Life, and the interest of life, have stagnated and scummed over. A. K. H. Boyd.
10. To form a scum; to become covered with scum. Also usedfiguratively.Life, and the interest of life, have stagnated and scummed over. A.K. H. Boyd.
11. n:100 n. a film of impurities or vegetation that can form on the surface of a liquid v. remove the scum from