determinant -
The unique scalar function over square matrices which is distributive over matrix multiplication, multilinear in the rows and columns, and takes the value of 1 for the unit matrix. Abbreviation: det.
determinant -
A substance that causes a cell to adopt a particular fate.
Adjektiv
determinant -
Serving to determine or limit; determinative.
Wikipedia
The determinant is a special number associated with any square matrix. The fundamental geometric meaning of a determinant is a scale factor or coefficient for measure when the matrix is regarded as a linear transformation. Thus a 2 × 2 matrix with determinant 2 when applied to a set of points with finite area will transform those points into a set with twice the area.