—n.
1 a circumstance, fact, or influence contributing to a result.
2 Math. a whole number etc. that when multiplied with another produces a given number or expression.
3 Biol. a gene etc. determining hereditary character.
4 (foll. by identifying number) Med. any of several substances in the blood contributing to coagulation (factor eight).
5 a a business agent; a merchant buying and selling on commission. b Sc. a land-agent or steward. c an agent or a deputy.
6 a company that buys a manufacturer's invoices and takes responsibility for collecting the payments due on them.
—v.tr.
1 Math. resolve into factors or components.
2 tr. sell (one's receivable debts) to a factor.
Phrases and idioms:
factor analysis Statistics a process by which the relative importance of variables in the study of a sample is assessed by mathematical techniques.
Derivatives:
factorable adj.
Etymology: F facteur or L factor f. facere fact- do, make
Useful english dictionary. 2012.