n. | 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. |
2. | A steward or bailiff of an estate. | |
3. | (Math.) One of the elements or quantities which, when multiplied together, form a product. | |
4. | One of the elements, circumstances, or influences which contribute to produce a result; a constituent; a contributory cause. | |
v. t. | 1. | (Mach.) To resolve (a quantity) into its factors. |
factor - A quantity which is multiplied by another quantity. See coefficient of X. See also divisor. |