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FACTOR
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
(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
Example:
genes were formerly called factors
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("factor" is a kind of...):
sequence (serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern)
Domain category:
genetic science; genetics (the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms)
molecular biology (the branch of biology that studies the structure and activity of macromolecules essential to life (and especially with their genetic role))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "factor"):
holandric gene; Y-linked gene (a gene located on a Y chromosome)
X-linked gene (a gene located on an X chromosome)
transgene (an exogenous gene introduced into the genome of another organism)
suppresser; suppresser gene; suppressor; suppressor gene (a gene that suppresses the phenotypic expression of another gene (especially of a mutant gene))
structural gene (a gene that controls the production of a specific protein or peptide)
repressor gene (gene that prevents a nonallele from being transcribed)
regulator gene; regulatory gene (a gene that produces a repressor substance that inhibits an operator gene)
recessive gene (gene that produces its characteristic phenotype only when its allele is identical)
proto-oncogene (a normal gene that has the potential to become an oncogene)
polygene (a gene that by itself has little effect on the phenotype but which can act together with others to produce observable variations)
oncogene; transforming gene (a gene that disposes normal cells to change into cancerous tumor cells)
operator gene (a gene that activates the production of messenger RNA by adjacent structural genes)
nonallele (genes that are not competitors at the same locus)
mutant gene (a gene that has changed so that the normal transmission and expression of a trait is affected)
modifier; modifier gene (a gene that modifies the effect produced by another gene)
linkage group; linked genes (any pair of genes that tend to be transmitted together)
lethal gene (any gene that has an effect that causes the death of the organism at any stage of life)
homeotic gene (one the genes that are involved in embryologic development)
genetic marker (a specific gene that produces a recognizable trait and can be used in family or population studies)
allele; allelomorph ((genetics) either of a pair (or series) of alternative forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a particular chromosome and that control the same character)
dominant gene (gene that produces the same phenotype in the organism whether or not its allele identical)
Holonyms ("factor" is a part of...):
chromosome (a threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order)
deoxyribonucleic acid; desoxyribonucleic acid; DNA ((biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information)
Sense 2
Meaning:
An independent variable in statistics
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("factor" is a kind of...):
experimental variable; independent variable ((statistics) a variable whose values are independent of changes in the values of other variables)
Sense 3
Meaning:
An abstract part of something
Example:
humor: an effective ingredient of a speech
Synonyms:
component; constituent; element; factor; ingredient
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("factor" is a kind of...):
division; part; section (one of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "factor"):
point (a geometric element that has position but no extension)
plot element (a component or element of the plot of a story)
be-all and end-all; be all and end all (the essential factor; the all-important element; the supreme aim)
Derivation:
factorize (resolve (a polynomial) into factors)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Anything that contributes causally to a result
Example:
a number of factors determined the outcome
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("factor" is a kind of...):
cause (events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "factor"):
fundamental (any factor that could be considered important to the understanding of a particular business)
parameter (any factor that defines a system and determines (or limits) its performance)
unknown quantity (a factor in a given situation whose bearing and importance is not apparent)
wild card (an unpredictable factor)
releasing factor; releasing hormone; RF (a substance produced by the hypothalamus that is capable of accelerating the secretion of a given hormone by the anterior pituitary gland)
intrinsic factor (a substance produced by the mucosa of the stomach and intestines that is essential for the absorption of vitamin B12)
Sense 5
Meaning:
A businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("factor" is a kind of...):
bourgeois; businessperson (a capitalist who engages in industrial commercial enterprise)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "factor"):
travel agent (someone who sells or arranges trips or tours for customers)
syndic (one appointed to represent a city or university or corporation in business transactions)
stockbroker (an agent in the buying and selling of stocks and bonds)
ship broker (an agent for the ship owner; obtains cargo and may arrange for its loading or discharge)
estate agent; house agent; land agent; real estate agent; real estate broker (a person who is authorized to act as an agent for the sale of land)
investment banker; underwriter (a banker who deals chiefly in underwriting new securities)
general agent; insurance agent; insurance broker; underwriter (an agent who sells insurance)
auctioneer (an agent who conducts an auction)
Holonyms ("factor" is a member of...):
brokerage; brokerage firm; securities firm (a stock broker's business; charges a fee to act as intermediary between buyer and seller)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together
Classified under:
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure
Hypernyms ("factor" is a kind of...):
number (a concept of quantity involving zero and units)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "factor"):
deflator (a statistical factor designed to remove the effect of inflation; inflation adjusted variables are in constant dollars)
conversion factor (factor by which a quantity that is expressed in one set of units must be multiplied in order to convert it into another set of units)
constant of proportionality; factor of proportionality (the constant value of the ratio of two proportional quantities x and y; usually written y = kx, where k is the factor of proportionality)
Derivation:
factor (resolve into factors)
factorize (resolve (a polynomial) into factors)
Sense 7
Meaning:
One of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer
Example:
what are the 4 factors of 6?
Synonyms:
divisor; factor
Classified under:
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure
Hypernyms ("factor" is a kind of...):
integer; whole number (any of the natural numbers (positive or negative) or zero)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "factor"):
prime factor (the prime factors of a quantity are all of the prime quantities that will exactly divide the given quantity)
equivalent-binary-digit factor (the average number of binary digits needed to express one radix digit in a numeration system that is not binary; on the average a number that can be expressed in N decimal digits takes 3.3N binary digits)
common divisor; common factor; common measure (an integer that divides two (or more) other integers evenly)
Derivation:
factor (resolve into factors)
factorize (resolve (a polynomial) into factors)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they factor ... he / she / it factors
Past simple: factored
Past participle: factored
-ing form: factoring
Sense 1
Meaning:
Resolve into factors
Example:
a quantum computer can factor the number 15
Synonyms:
factor; factor in; factor out
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "factor" is one way to...):
calculate; cipher; compute; cypher; figure; reckon; work out (make a mathematical calculation or computation)
Domain category:
arithmetic (the branch of pure mathematics dealing with the theory of numerical calculations)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
factor (any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together)
factor (one of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer)
factoring; factorisation; factorization ((mathematics) the resolution of an expression into factors such that when multiplied together they give the original expression)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Consider as relevant when making a decision
Example:
You must factor in the recent developments
Synonyms:
factor; factor in; factor out
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "factor" is one way to...):
consider; study (give careful consideration to)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Be a contributing factor
Example:
make things factor into a company's profitability
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "factor" is one way to...):
add; bestow; bring; contribute; impart; lend (bestow a quality on)
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
Context examples:
Inhibition of these processes results in suppression of the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6.
(Acai Berry Juice, NCI Thesaurus)
Factors influencing this ability include geographic, architectural, transportational, and financial considerations, among others.
(Access to Care, NCI Thesaurus)
This gene plays a role in transcriptional regulation, muscle development and transcriptional responses to stress and growth factors.
(MEF2A Gene, NCI Thesaurus)
Flt3L is a hematopoietic growth factor and ligand for the Flt3 tyrosine kinase receptor.
(Ad-hCMV-Flt3L, NCI Thesaurus)
This may eventually lead to an inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and an inhibition in production of various inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1, -6 and tumor necrosis factor.
(MEK Inhibitor MEK162, NCI Thesaurus)
Studies with homozygous knockout mice have suggested that stem cell factor (SCF or KITLG), c-Kit, microphthalmia (Mitf), and B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) genes regulate melanocytic development.
(Melanocyte Development Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)
Difficulty in recollection, or interruption of a train of thought or speech, due to emotional factors.
(Mental Blocking, NCI Thesaurus)
In other cases, the transcription factors themselves are mutated.
(Acute Myeloid Leukemia Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)
Acidic fibroblast growth factor intracellular binding protein (364 aa, 42 kD) is a cell communication process protein that is encoded by the human FIBP gene and has a role in signal transduction and B-cell activation.
(Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor Intracellular Binding Protein, NCI Thesaurus)
Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (179 aa, ~20 kDa) is encoded by the human MANF gene.
(Mesencephalic Astrocyte-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, NCI Thesaurus)
