eigenvector

American  

[ahy-guhn-vek-ter] / ˈaɪ gənˌvɛk tər /

noun

Mathematics.

1. characteristic vector.

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eigenvector British  

/ ˈaɪɡənˌvɛktə /

noun

1. maths physics a vector x satisfying an equation A x = λ x , where A is a square matrix and λ is a constant

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Etymology

Origin of eigenvector

First recorded in 1955–60, eigenvector is from the German word Eigenvektor

Example Sentences

The recent Wired article notes that the Stitch Fix data science team uses “something called eigenvector decomposition, a concept from quantum mechanics, to tease apart the overlapping ‘notes’ in an individual’s style.”

From Slate • Oct. 10, 2019

As many people pointed out on Twitter, eigenvector decomposition is just a regular old linear algebra technique.

From Slate • Oct. 10, 2019

There is something called eigenvector centrality, which my friends in Natural Philosophy tell me is a bit of mathematics unlikely ever to have any practical application in the wider world.

From Slate • Jun. 10, 2013

The principal eigenvector explains < 1.1% of the total genetic variance.

From Nature • Feb. 8, 2012

The principal eigenvector explains < 1.1% of the total genetic variance.

From Nature • Feb. 8, 2012