factor in WordNet English dictionary

1. a businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission
   agent  factor  broker 
   
2. (genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity
   "genes were formerly called factors"
   gene  cistron  factor 
   
3. an abstract part of something
   "jealousy was a component of his character"; "two constituents of a musical composition are melody and harmony"; "the grammatical elements of a sentence"; "a key factor in her success"; "humor: an effective ingredient of a speech"
   component  constituent  element  factor  ingredient 
   
4. one of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer
   "what are the 4 factors of 6?"
   divisor  factor 
   
5. an independent variable in statistics
   factor 
   
6. anything that contributes causally to a result
   "a number of factors determined the outcome"
   factor 
   
7. any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together
   factor 
   

1. resolve into factors
   "a quantum computer can factor the number 15"
   factor  factor in  factor out 
   
2. consider as relevant when making a decision
   "You must factor in the recent developments"
   factor  factor in  factor out 
   
3. be a contributing factor
   "make things factor into a company's profitability"
   factor