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n. 1. One that actively contributes to an accomplishment, result, or 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. One who purchases accounts receivable at a discount. 3. Mathematics One of two or more quantities that divides a given quantity without a remainder. For example, 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. v. fac·tored, fac·tor·ing, fac·tors tr.v. To determine or indicate explicitly the factors of: If you factor 70, you get 2, 5, and 7. intr.v. Phrasal Verb: To engage in purchasing accounts receivable at a discount. factor in To figure in: factored vacations in when preparing the schedule. [Middle English factour, perpetrator, agent, from Old French facteur, from Latin factor, maker, from facere, to make; see dhē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] factor·a·ble adj. factor·ship′ n. |
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