fac·tor (f k t r)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. A person or firm that accepts accounts receivable as security for short-term loans. 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. tr.v. fac·tored, fac·tor·ing, fac·tors Phrasal Verb: To determine or indicate explicitly the factors of. factor in To figure in: We factored sick days and vacations in when we prepared the work schedule. [Middle English factour, perpetrator, agent, from Old French facteur, from Latin factor, maker, from facere, to make; see dh  - in Indo-European roots.]fac tor·a·ble adj.fac tor·ship n. |
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