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n. pl. fac·to·ries 1. a. A building or group of buildings in which goods are manufactured; a plant. b. See factory ship. 2. A business establishment for commercial agents or factors in a foreign country. 3. The source of prolific production: a rock group that was a hit-tune factory; a motel that served as an illegal drug factory. [Late Latin factōria, oil press, mill, and Medieval Latin factōria, establishment for factors, both from Latin factor, factor; see FACTOR.] |
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