Definition
A wing planform in which the chord (the distance from leading edge to trailing edge) decreases from the wing root to the wing tip. A tapered wing is narrower at the tip than where it joins the fuselage, and this shape influences how lift is distributed along the span and how the wing behaves as it approaches a stall.
Plain English
A wing that is wider where it meets the fuselage and gets narrower toward the tip. The shape gradually shrinks from root to tip rather than staying the same width all the way out.
Context Anchor
Seen in stall discussions when comparing how different wing shapes behave near a stall.
Derivation
From the Old English 'taper,' meaning a slender candle that grows thinner toward the top. The aviation use carries the same idea: something that narrows progressively along its length.
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether the stall begins at the wing root or tip, directly affecting aileron effectiveness and roll control near stall speed.
Intuition Check
Do not treat taper as just a design detail with no flying effect. In this context, taper means a wing shape that can influence how the airplane behaves near a stall.
Example Sentence 1
The trainer's tapered wing produces a slightly different stall pattern than a fully rectangular wing of the same area.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots check wing taper when predicting how the airplane will behave as it approaches a stall.