linear map

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

linear map
linear transformation

   <mathematics> (Or "linear transformation") A {function} from a
   {vector space} to a vector space which respects the {additive}
   and {multiplicative} structures of the two: that is, for any
   two {vectors}, u, v, in the source vector space and any
   scalar, k, in the {field} over which it is a vector space, a
   linear map f satisfies f(u+kv) = f(u) + kf(v).

   (1996-09-30)