eigenfunction

American

[ahy-guhn-fuhngk-shuhn] / ˈaɪ gənˌfʌŋk ʃən /

noun

Mathematics.

a characteristic vector in a vector space in which the elements are functions.

eigenfunction British

/ ˈaɪɡənˌfʌŋkʃən /

noun

maths physics a function satisfying a differential equation, esp an allowed function for a system in wave mechanics

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of eigenfunction

1925–30; < German Eigenfunktion, equivalent to eigen- characteristic, particular + Funktion function

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023