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

Synonyms:

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

Other Word Forms of Factor

Noun

Singular:

factor

Plural:

factors

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