Definition
Structural members inside a wing that run from the leading edge to the trailing edge and give the wing its airfoil shape. Ribs attach to the spars and support the wing's skin, transferring aerodynamic loads from the skin into the spars.
Plain English
The shaped pieces inside a wing that give it its curved profile and hold the outer skin in place. They sit crosswise between the front-to-back beams (spars) and keep the wing in the right shape as air flows over it.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in aircraft structure discussions, especially when learning how wings are built and what kinds of wing damage matter during inspection.
Derivation
Rib comes from the Old English word for the curved bones in a chest that give the body its shape. The aviation use is a direct visual borrowing — wing ribs are the curved internal pieces that give the wing its shape, just as bone ribs shape a torso.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing the role of wing ribs helps a pilot recognize their importance for wing strength and check for damage during preflight inspections.
Intuition Check
Wing ribs are not decorative lines on the outside of the wing. They are structural supports inside the wing that help hold its shape.
Example Sentence 1
During the factory tour, the student could see the wing ribs lined up along the spar before the skin was riveted on.
Example Sentence 2
A bent wing rib can weaken the whole wing and must be inspected before flight.