'Factor' definitions:

Definition of 'factor'

From: WordNet
noun
Anything that contributes causally to a result; "a number of factors determined the outcome"
noun
An abstract part of something; "jealousy was a component of his character"; "two constituents of a musical composition are melody and harmony"; "the grammatical elements of a sentence"; "a key factor in her success"; "humor: an effective ingredient of a speech" [syn: component, constituent, element, factor, ingredient]
noun
One of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer; "what are the 4 factors of 6?" [syn: divisor, factor]
noun
A businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission [syn: agent, factor, broker]
noun
Any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together
noun
An independent variable in statistics
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" [syn: gene, cistron, factor]
verb
Resolve into factors; "a quantum computer can factor the number 15" [syn: factor, factor in, factor out]
verb
Be a contributing factor; "make things factor into a company's profitability"
verb
Consider as relevant when making a decision; "You must factor in the recent developments" [syn: factor, factor in, factor out]

Definition of 'Factor'

From: GCIDE
  • Factor \Fac"tor\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Factored (-t[e^]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Factoring.] (Mach.) To resolve (a quantity) into its factors. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Factor'

From: GCIDE
  • Factor \Fac"tor\, n. [L. factor a doer: cf. F. facteur a factor. See Fact.]
  • 1. (Law) 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. --Story. --Wharton. [1913 Webster]
  • My factor sends me word, a merchant's fled That owes me for a hundred tun of wine. --Marlowe. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A steward or bailiff of an estate. [Scot.] --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Math.) One of the elements or quantities which, when multiplied together, form a product. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. One of the elements, circumstances, or influences which contribute to produce a result; a constituent; a contributory cause. [1913 Webster +PJC]
  • The materal and dynamical factors of nutrition. --H. Spencer. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'factor'

From: Moby Thesaurus