Factor Definition
făktər
factored, factoring, factors
noun
factors
One that actively contributes to an accomplishment, result, or process.
American Heritage
A person who carries on business transactions for another; commission merchant; agent for the sale of goods entrusted to his possession.
Webster's New World
One who acts for someone else; an agent.
American Heritage
An agent, as a banking or finance company, engaged in financing the operations of certain companies, or in financing wholesale and retail sales, through the purchase of accounts receivable.
Webster's New World
Any of the circumstances, conditions, etc. that bring about a result; element or constituent that makes a thing what it is.
Webster's New World
verb
factored, factoring, factors
To resolve into factors.
Webster's New World
To act in the capacity of a factor.
Webster's New World
To engage in purchasing accounts receivable at a discount.
American Heritage
To find the factors of a number or expression. For example, the number 12 can be factored into 2 and 6, or 3 and 4, or 1 and 12.
American Heritage Science
To find all the factors of (a number or other mathematical object) (the objects that divide it evenly).
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
idiom
factor in (<i>or</i> into)
- to include as a factor
Webster's New World
factor out
- to exclude as a factor
Webster's New World
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Factor
- factor in (or into)
- factor out
Origin of Factor
-
Middle English factour perpetrator, agent from Old French facteur from Latin factor maker from facere to make dhē- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Middle French facteur, from Latin factor (“a doer, maker, performer”), from factus (“done or made”), perfect passive participle of faciō (“do, make”).
From Wiktionary
Factor Is Also Mentioned In
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to factor using the buttons below.