Definition of Factor

1. Noun. Anything that contributes causally to a result. "A number of factors determined the outcome"


2. Verb. Resolve into factors. "A quantum computer can factor the number 15"
Exact synonyms: Factor In, Factor Out
Category relationships: Arithmetic
Generic synonyms: Calculate, Cipher, Compute, Cypher, Figure, Reckon, Work Out
Derivative terms: Factoring, Factorisation, Factorization

3. Noun. An abstract part of something. "Humor: an effective ingredient of a speech"
Exact synonyms: Component, Constituent, Element, Ingredient
Specialized synonyms: Be All And End All, Be-all And End-all, Plot Element, Point
Generic synonyms: Division, Part, Section
Derivative terms: Compose, Factorize

4. Verb. Be a contributing factor. "Make things factor into a company's profitability"
Generic synonyms: Add, Bestow, Bring, Contribute, Impart, Lend

5. Noun. One of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer. "What are the 4 factors of 6?"
Exact synonyms: Divisor
Specialized synonyms: Prime Factor, Equivalent-binary-digit Factor, Common Divisor, Common Factor, Common Measure
Generic synonyms: Integer, Whole Number
Derivative terms: Factorize

6. Verb. Consider as relevant when making a decision. "You must factor in the recent developments"
Exact synonyms: Factor In, Factor Out
Generic synonyms: Consider, Study

7. Noun. A businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission.

8. Noun. Any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together.
Specialized synonyms: Deflator, Conversion Factor, Constant Of Proportionality, Factor Of Proportionality
Generic synonyms: Number
Derivative terms: Factorize

9. Noun. An independent variable in statistics.

10. Noun. (genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity. "Genes were formerly called factors"

Definition of Factor

1. n. One who transacts business for another; an agent; a substitute; especially, a mercantile agent who buys and sells goods and transacts business for others in commission; a commission merchant or consignee. He may be a home factor or a foreign factor. He may buy and sell in his own name, and he is intrusted with the possession and control of the goods; and in these respects he differs from a broker.

2. v. t. To resolve (a quantity) into its factors.

Definition of Factor

1. Noun. (obsolete) A doer, maker; a person who does things for another person or organization ¹

2. Noun. (rare) An agent or representative. ¹

3. Noun. An integral part ¹

4. Noun. (mathematics) Any of various objects multiplied together to form some whole ¹

5. Noun. (context: root cause analysis) Influence; a phenomenon that affects the nature, the magnitude, and/or the timing of a consequence ¹

6. Verb. (transitive) To find all the factors of (a number or other mathematical object) (the objects that divide it evenly). ¹

7. Verb. (context: of a number or other mathematical object intransitive) To be a product of other objects. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Factor

1. to express as a product of two or more quantities [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Factor

1. Any of several substances or activities that are necessary to produce a result, for example a coagulation factor. Often, use of the term factor indicates that the chemical nature of the substance or its mechanism of action is unknown, as in endocrinology, where factors are renamed as hormones when their chemical nature is determined. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Factor

factitious disorder
factitious disorders
factitious purpura
factitious urticaria
factitiously
factitiousness
factitive
factitively
factive
factiveness
factivity
factless
factoid
factoidal
factoids
factor (current term)
factor 3
factor A
factor B
factor D
factor E
factor Gm
factor H
factor III
factor IIa
factor IV

Literary usage of Factor

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Convention by National Electric Light Association Convention, National Independent Meat Packers Association, University of Georgia College of Agriculture, University of Georgia Dept. of Food Science (1919)
"Using Garage Synchronous Motor to Correct Line Power-factor. F. C Taylor. ... Condenser Rating Necessary to Improve Power factor. HH Getter. Chart. ..."

2. Encyclopaedia Britannica, a Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and edited by Hugh Chisholm (1910)
"If N is the order of G. and я а factor of N, the n umber oT operations of G, ... The order я of H must therefore be a factor of the order N of G. The ratio ..."

3. Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People: A Report of the Surgeon General by M. Joycelyn Elders (1997)
"Adolescent Smoking Behavior as a Risk factor for Subsequent Smoking Intentions to Smoke Since intentions are viewed as proximal to performance, the research ..."

4. Bulletin by National Electric Light Association (1911)
"A low power-factor is extremely detrimental to the efficiency of the above equipment, singly and jointly. Its bad effects manifest themselves in large ..."

5. Journal of the American Chemical Society by American Chemical Society (1879)
"In view- of all these conflicting data Wiley recommends the factor 0.92, a mean between the two last cited, which will give the analyst fairly accurate ..."

6. The American and English Encyclopedia of Law by John Houston Merrill, Charles Frederic Williams, Thomas Johnson Michie, David Shephard Garland (1887)
"Relation of factor to Third Parties.—May Sue in his Own Name. —Where a factor sells the goods of his principal he may sue for the price in his own name. ..."

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