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Noun: factor  fak-tu(r)
  1. Anything that contributes causally to a result
    "a number of factors determined the outcome"
     
  2. An abstract part of something
    "a key factor in her success";
    - component, constituent, element, ingredient
     
  3. One of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer
    "what are the 4 factors of 6?";
    - divisor
     
  4. A businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission
    - agent, broker
     
  5. Any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together
     
  6. An independent variable in statistics
     
  7. (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"; "cistrons were formerly called factors";
    - gene, cistron
Verb: factor  fak-tu(r)
  1. (arithmetic) resolve into factors
    "a quantum computer can factor the number 15";
    - factor in, factor out
     
  2. Be a contributing factor
    "make things factor into a company's profitability"
     
  3. Consider as relevant when making a decision
    "You must factor in the recent developments";
    - factor in, factor out

Derived forms: factors, factoring, factored

Type of: add, bestow, bourgeois, bring, businessperson, calculate, cause, cipher, compute, consider, contribute, cypher, division, experimental variable, figure [N. Amer], impart, independent variable, integer, lend, number, part, reckon, section, sequence, study, whole number, work out

Part of: brokerage, brokerage firm, chromosome, deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, securities firm

Encyclopedia: Factor, Max