I'd like to know a little more about an airplane spec figure that is listed when describing airframes/planes: "Wing Loading" (ex: Wing Loading: 22oz/sq ft (67g/sq dm) for a Sig Four-Star 120). What does the "Wing Loading" really mean and how does it play a part in wing design? Is a high or low wingloading better than the other? (let me guess the answer on this: It depends on HOW you plan to fly the plane) How does a high or low loading really work out with the way the plane flies? Is it a measure of how much pressure the wing can take before shearing? (like putting it into a high speed dive and then snapping back on the elevator or attempting a high speed turn?)

I can imagine that a "trainer" has a MUCH different "wing loading" than say, a sport or aerobatic, but how can I put the numbers into "perspective" so that I can understand what I'm reading about?

I know this is a TOTALLY DUMB question that redefines "basic", but my wife asked me earlier and I found out that I really didn't have a good answer (and if you can't explain it, you probably don't know it as well as you should !)