Definitions for: Factor


[n] a segment of DNA found on a chromosome that codes for a particular protein; a unit of heredity; "genes were formerly called factors"
[n] anything that contributes causally to a result; "a number of factors determined the outcome"
[n] a businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission
[n] any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together
[n] one of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer; "what are the 4 factors of 6?"
[v] resolve into factors



Webster (1913) Definition: Fac"tor, n. [L. factor a doer: cf. F. facteur a factor.
See Fact.]
1. (Law) One who transacts business for another; an agent; a
substitute; especially, a mercantile agent who buys and
sells goods and transacts business for others in
commission; a commission merchant or consignee. He may be
a home factor or a foreign factor. He may buy and sell in
his own name, and he is intrusted with the possession and
control of the goods; and in these respects he differs
from a broker. --Story. --Wharton.

My factor sends me word, a merchant's fled That owes
me for a hundred tun of wine. --Marlowe.

2. A steward or bailiff of an estate. [Scot.] --Sir W. Scott.

3. (Math.) One of the elements or quantities which, when
multiplied together, from a product.

4. One of the elements, circumstances, or influences which
contribute to produce a result; a constituent.

The materal and dynamical factors of nutrition. --H.
Spencer.


Fac"tor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Factored (-t?rd); p. pr.
& vb. n. Factoring.] (Mach.)
To resolve (a quantity) into its factors.

Synonyms: agent, broker, component, constituent, divisor, element, factor in, factor out, gene, ingredient

See Also: allele, allelomorph, auctioneer, be all and end all, be-all and end-all, bourgeois, brokerage, brokerage firm, businessperson, calculate, cause, chromosome, cipher, common divisor, common factor, common measure, compute, constant of proportionality, conversion factor, cypher, deflator, division, dominant gene, equivalent-binary-digit factor, estate agent, factor of proportionality, figure, general agent, genetic marker, holandric gene, house agent, insurance agent, insurance broker, integer, intrinsic factor, investment banker, land agent, lethal gene, linkage group, linked genes, modifier, modifier gene, mutant gene, nonallele, number, oncogene, operator gene, parameter, part, point, prime factor, protein molecule, proto-oncogene, real estate agent, real estate broker, realtor, recessive gene, reckon, regulator gene, regulatory gene, releasing factor, releasing hormone, repressor gene, RF, section, securities firm, ship broker, stockbroker, structural gene, suppresser, suppresser gene, suppressor, suppressor gene, syndic, transforming gene, travel agent, underwriter, unknown quantity, whole number, wild card, work out, X-linked gene, Y-linked gene

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