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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. A businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission
   - agent, broker
    
5. Any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together
    
6. An independent variable in statistics
    
7. (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

1. (arithmetic) resolve into factors
   "a quantum computer can factor the number 15";
   - 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, factor out

Derived forms: factors, factoring, factored

Type of: add, bestow, bourgeois, bring, businessperson, calculate, cause, cipher, compute, consider, contribute, cypher, division, experimental variable, 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