n. & v.
n. 1 a circumstance, fact, or influence contributing to a result. 2 Math. a whole number etc. that when multiplied with another produces a given number or expression. 3 Biol. a gene etc. determining hereditary character. 4 (foll. by identifying number) Med. any of several substances in the blood contributing to coagulation (factor eight). 5 a a business agent; a merchant buying and selling on commission. b Sc. a land-agent or steward. c an agent or a deputy. 6 a company that buys a manufacturer's invoices and takes responsibility for collecting the payments due on them.
v.tr. 1 Math. resolve into factors or components. 2 tr. sell (one's receivable debts) to a factor. factor analysis Statistics a process by which the relative importance of variables in the study of a sample is assessed by mathematical techniques. factorable adj.
[ F facteur or L factor f. facere fact- do, make ]