factor

fac|tor¹ W1S3 [ˈfæktə US -ər] n

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1¦(cause/influence)¦

2¦(level on a scale)¦

3 by a factor of five/ten etc

4¦(mathematics)¦

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[Date: 1400-1500; : French; Origin: facteur, from Latin factor 'doer, maker', from facere 'to do, make']

1.) ¦(CAUSE/INFLUENCE)¦

one of several things that influence or cause a situation

▪ The rise in crime is mainly due to social and economic factors.

factor in

▪ The vaccination program has been a major factor in the improvement of health standards.

important/major/key/crucial factor

▪ The weather could be a crucial factor in tomorrow's game.

deciding/decisive/determining factor

(=the most important factor)

▪ We liked both houses, but price was the deciding factor.

2.) ¦(LEVEL ON A SCALE)¦

a particular level on a scale that measures how strong or effective something is

▪ factor 15 suntan oil

▪ Even in July the windchill factor (=the degree to which the air feels colder because of the wind) can be intense.

3.) by a factor of five/ten etc

if something increases or decreases by a factor of five, ten etc, it increases or decreases by five times, ten times etc

4.) ¦(MATHEMATICS)¦

technical a number that divides into another number exactly

▪ 3 is a factor of 15.

factor ²

factor² v [T] AmE technical

to divide a number into factors

factor in [factor sth<=>in] phr v

to include a particular thing in your calculations about how long something will take, how much it will cost etc

factor out [factor sth<=>out] phr v

to not include something in your calculations about how long something will take, how much it will cost etc