1. Anything that contributes causally to a result
   "a number of factors determined the outcome"
    
2. An abstract part of something
   "a key factor in her success";
   - component, constituent, element, ingredient
    
3. One of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer
   "what are the 4 factors of 6?";
   - divisor
    
4. Any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together
   "The students learned to identify the factors of composite numbers"
    
5. An independent variable in statistics
   "Age and education level were important factors in the study"
    
6. (genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity
   "genes were formerly called factors"; "cistrons were formerly called factors";
   - gene, cistron
    
7. A businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission
   "The factor negotiated the sale of the property";
   - agent, broker

1. (arithmetic) find and remove a common factor from an algebraic expression
   "a quantum computer can factor the number 15"; "The students learned to factor in polynomials"; "factor out the greatest common divisor";
   - factor in, factor out
    
2. Be a contributing factor
   "make things factor into a company's profitability"
    
3. Consider as relevant when making a decision
   "You must factor in the recent developments";
   - factor in

Derived forms: factors, factoring, factored

Type of: add, bestow, bourgeois, bring, businessperson, calculate, cause, cipher, compute, consider, contribute, cypher, division, figure [N. Amer], impart, independent variable, integer, lend, number, part, reckon, section, sequence, study, whole number, work out

Part of: brokerage, brokerage firm, chromosome, deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, securities firm

Encyclopedia: Factor, Max