As a Verb or Adjective: 1. Of two objects, for one to pass very close by the other one (often slightly touching it) but continuing to move forward. English = skim over/past, glance by/off, scrape along/by 2. To try to deliberately hit one object with another, but to pass by without hitting, e.g., in snooker, for one ball to pass and just miss another ball. English = just miss.