TITLE: What does 'vanishing' mean in the context of Linear Algebra?
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wronskian
The line under 'Wronskian and linear independence' is what I'm talking about.
When you take the determinant of a matrix with linearly dependent vectors, doesn't it make the determinant $0$? Is going to $0$ what they are talking about?

REPLY [9 votes]: It's traditional mathematical English to say "$x$ vanishes" to mean $x = 0$.

REPLY [4 votes]: Your interpretation is correct. "The Wronskian vanishes" means the Wronskian is equal to $0$.