Plain English Meaning
Curved rather than flat. When a wing is described as cambered, it means its surface has a built-in curve that helps it produce lift.
Full Definition
Shaped with a curve, particularly the curved upper and/or lower surface of an airfoil. A cambered wing has an asymmetric profile in which the curvature of the upper surface differs from the lower surface, generating lift as air flows around it.
Context Anchor
Seen in aerodynamics and wing-design discussions, especially when comparing different wing shapes or explaining how lift is produced.
Derivation
From the Old French 'cambre,' meaning 'curved' or 'arched,' which traces back to the Latin 'camurus' (curved inward). The word entered English to describe any gentle arch or curve, and aviation borrowed it to describe the curved shape of a wing.
Why Pilots Care
Camber affects how much lift a wing produces at low speeds and angles, directly influencing , , and behavior.