factor
factor
(făkʹtər) noun
1.
One that actively contributes to an accomplishment, a result, or a process: "Surprise is the greatest factor in war" (Tom Clancy). See synonyms at element.
2.
a. One who acts for someone else; an agent. b. A person or firm that accepts accounts receivable as security for short-term loans.
3. Mathematics. One of two or more quantities that divides a given quantity without a remainder: 2 and 3 are factors of 6; a and b are factors of ab.
4. A quantity by which a stated quantity is multiplied or divided, so as to indicate an increase or decrease in a measurement: The rate increased by a factor of ten.
5. A gene. No longer in technical usage.
6. Physiology. A substance that functions in a specific biochemical reaction or bodily process, such as blood coagulation.
verb
, transitive
factored
, factoring, factors
To determine or indicate explicitly the factors of.
phrasal verb.
factor in
To figure in: We factored sick days and vacations in when we prepared the work schedule.
[Middle English factour, perpetrator, agent, from Old French facteur, from Latin factor, maker, from facere, to make.]
fac
ʹtorable adjective
fac
ʹtorship noun