释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024fac•tor /ˈfæktɚ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- one of the elements contributing to a particular result:Various factors could be the cause of the disease.
- Mathematicsone of two or more numbers, that when multiplied together produce a given product;
a divisor:6 and 3 are factors of 18. - Biochemistryan amount or degree on a scale of something:We increased output by a factor of five (= We increased output by five times).
v. [~ + in/into + object] - factor in or into, to include (something) as a contributing element;
take into account:We have to factor in the effects of advertising. You must factor the insurance payments into the cost of maintaining a car. See -fac-. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024fac•tor (fak′tər),USA pronunciation n. - one of the elements contributing to a particular result or situation:Poverty is only one of the factors in crime.
- Mathematicsone of two or more numbers, algebraic expressions, or the like, that when multiplied together produce a given product;
a divisor:6 and 3 are factors of 18. - Biochemistryany of certain substances necessary to a biochemical or physiological process, esp. those whose exact nature and function are unknown.
- Businessa business organization that lends money on accounts receivable or buys and collects accounts receivable.
- Businessa person who acts or transacts business for another;
an agent. - Communications, Businessan agent entrusted with the possession of goods to be sold in the agent's name;
a merchant earning a commission by selling goods belonging to others. - Businessa person or business organization that provides money for another's new business venture;
one who finances another's business. - BusinessSee factor of production.
- Scottish Termsthe steward or bailiff of an estate.
v.t. - Mathematicsto express (a mathematical quantity) as a product of two or more quantities of like kind, as 30 = 2•3•5, or x2 - y2 = (x + y) (x - y). Cf. expand (def. 4a).
- Communicationsto act as a factor for.
v.i. - Communicationsto act as a factor.
- factor in or into, to include as an essential element, esp. in forecasting or planning:You must factor insurance payments into the cost of maintaining a car.
- Latin factor maker, perpetrator, equivalent. to fac(ere) to make, do + -tor -tor
- late Middle English facto(u)r 1400–50
fac′tor•a•ble, adj. fac′tor•a•bil′i•ty, n. fac′tor•ship′, n. |