English

Noun

factor, plural factors

1. doer, maker; a person who does things for another person or organization

   The factor of the trading post bought the furs.

2. an integral part

   The greatest factor in the decision was the need for public transportation.

   The economy was a factor in this year's budget figures.

3. (Mathematics) a whole number by which another whole number can be divided with no remainder

   Three is a factor of 12.

Etymology

From Latin factor, doer or maker, from perfect passive participle factus , done or made, from verb facere, do or make

Translations

• Bulgarian: фактор m (2), делител m (3)
• Chinese: 因素 (yīn sù)
• Danish: faktor c
• French: facteur m
• German: Faktor m (2,3)
• Interlingua: factor
• Latin: factor m
• Spanish: factor

Derived terms

• factorial

Verb

factor, factors, factored , factoring

1. find all of a number's factors (the numbers which divide into the first number evenly), often used in encryption

Related terms

• factor in
• refactor

See also

• Wikipedia article on factors

Latin

Noun

factor, genitive factoris , plural factores

1. doer, maker; one who or which does or makes something

Etymology

From verb facere, do or make