Dictionary definition · factor
noun
- anything that contributes causally to a result"a number of factors determined the outcome"
- an abstract part of something"jealousy was a component of his character"
- one of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer"what are the 4 factors of 6?"
- a businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission
- any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together
- an independent variable in statistics
- (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"
verb
- resolve into factors"a quantum computer can factor the number 15"
- be a contributing factor"make things factor into a company's profitability"
- consider as relevant when making a decision"You must factor in the recent developments"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).