As a Noun: 1. In mathematics, a whole number by which a larger whole number can be divided. English = factor. 2. In mathematics, the process of writing a number as a product of several factors. For example, 3 x 5 is a factorization of the number 15. English = factorization. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. In mathematics, to resolve a number into factors, i.e., to determine if a whole number can be divided by one or more whole numbers. English = factorize.