Definition of eigenvalue
: a scalar associated with a given linear transformation of a vector space and having the property that there is some nonzero vector which when multiplied by the scalar is equal to the vector obtained by letting the transformation operate on the vector
especially
: a root of the characteristic equation of a matrix
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for eigenvalue
The first known use of eigenvalue was in 1927
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