Factor | Mean of factor in English Dictionary

/ˈfæktɚ/

• Noun
• something that helps produce or influence a result
1. There were several factors contributing to their recent decline.
2. Poor planning was a major factor in the company's failure.
3. Cost was the decisive/deciding/determining factor in their decision. [=the most important reason for their decision]
• a number that evenly divides a larger number
1. 6, 4, 3, and 2 are factors of 12.
• an amount by which another amount is multiplied or divided
1. Costs increased/decreased by a factor of 10. [=costs were 10 times higher/lower than they had been]
• Verb

• to consider or include (something) in making a judgment or calculation
1. In doing our calculations we need to factor in inflation.
2. We need to factor inflation into our calculations.
• to not consider or include (something) in making a judgment or calculation
1. Even after factoring out inflation, the costs have increased greatly.