Plain English Meaning

If you sliced through a wing from front to back and looked at the cut end, the shape you would see is the airfoil profile. Different shapes give the wing different flying characteristics.

Full Definition

The cross-sectional shape of a wing, propeller blade, or other airfoil when viewed from the side, showing the curvature of the upper and lower surfaces from leading edge to trailing edge. The profile determines how the airfoil produces lift and drag at a given speed and angle of attack.

Context Anchor

Seen in discussions of wing design, lift, drag, stalls, and why different aircraft wings are shaped differently.