Function and Factor

noun

• Mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function. ()
  • synonyms: mathematical function, single-valued function, map, mapping
• What something is used for.
  • usage: "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it"
  • synonyms: purpose, role, use
• The actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group.
  • usage: "the function of a teacher"; "the government must do its part"; "play its role"
  • synonyms: office, part, role
• A relation such that one thing is dependent on another.
  • usage: "height is a function of age"; "price is a function of supply and demand"
• A formal or official social gathering or ceremony.
  • usage: "it was a black-tie function"
• A vaguely specified social event.
  • usage: "the party was quite an affair"; "an occasion arranged to honor the president"; "a seemingly endless round of social functions"
  • synonyms: affair, occasion, social occasion, social function
• A set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program.
  • synonyms: routine, subroutine, subprogram, procedure

verb

• Perform as expected when applied.
  • usage: "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"; "Does this old car still run well"; "This old radio doesn't work anymore"
  • synonyms: work, operate, go, run
• Serve a purpose, role, or function.
  • usage: "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk"
  • synonyms: serve
• Perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function.
  • usage: "His wife officiated as his private secretary"
  • synonyms: officiate

• (v.i.) Alternative of Functionate.
• (n.) The course of action which peculiarly pertains to any public officer in church or state; the activity appropriate to any business or profession.
• (n.) A quantity so connected with another quantity, that if any alteration be made in the latter there will be a consequent alteration in the former. Each quantity is said to be a function of the other. Thus, the circumference of a circle is a function of the diameter. If x be a symbol to which different numerical values can be assigned, such expressions as x2, 3x, Log. x, and Sin. x, are all functions of x.
• (n.) The act of executing or performing any duty, office or calling; per formance.
• (n.) The appropriate action of any special organ or part of an animal or vegetable organism; as, the function of the heart or the limbs; the function of leaves, sap, roots, etc.; life is the sum of the functions of the various organs and parts of the body.
• (n.) The natural or assigned action of any power or faculty, as of the soul or of the intellect; the exertion of an energy of some determinate kind.
• (n.) A public or social ceremony or gathering; a festivity or entertainment, especially one somewhat formal.
• (n.) A religious ceremony, especially one particularly impressive and elaborate.

noun

• Anything that contributes causally to a result.
  • usage: "a number of factors determined the outcome"
• An abstract part of something.
  • usage: "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"
  • synonyms: component, constituent, element, ingredient
• One of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer.
  • usage: "what are the 4 factors of 6"
  • synonyms: divisor
• A businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission.
  • synonyms: agent, broker
• Any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together.
• An independent variable in statistics.
• 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. (
  • usage: "genes were formerly called factors"
  • synonyms: gene, cistron

verb

• Resolve into factors.
  • usage: "a quantum computer can factor the number 15"
  • synonyms: factor in, factor out
• Be a contributing factor.
  • usage: "make things factor into a company's profitability"
• Consider as relevant when making a decision.
  • usage: "You must factor in the recent developments"
  • synonyms: factor in, factor out

• (n.) 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.
• (n.) A steward or bailiff of an estate.
• (n.) One of the elements, circumstances or influences which contribute to produce a result; a constituent.
• (v.t.) To resolve (a quantity) into its factors.
• (n.) One of the elements or quantities which, when multiplied together, from a product.

1. The percent of the original face of an MBS pool that remains outstanding at any given time is called the current' factor'. Principal payments, made by the borrowers, reduce the original face every month. Thus there is a new current factor each month. The current face is always equal to the product of the original face times the current factor. 2. An individual or firm that purchases accounts receivable from firms in need of working capital. Usually, a specialized financial firm engaged exclusively or almost exclusively in factoring.