All 9 Uses

factor
in
The Hot Zone
(Auto-generated)

The blood has been stripped of its clotting factors.†
p. 107.1 *

factors = things that affect a result or outcome
This blood keeps running, because the clotting factors have been used up.†
p. 20.1
The puke factor.†
p. 90.6
The puke factor.†
p. 195.5
He experienced what he would later describe as "a major pucker factor" setting in.†
p. 204.2
C. J. then gave an overview of the situation, telling the general about the monkeys in Reston, and finishing with these words: "I'd say we have a major pucker factor about the virus in those monkeys."†
p. 223.2
She held her breath, fighting the puke factor, and picked up a bag.†
p. 250.5
There was an additional factor.†
p. 262.9
He was careful not to use scary military terms such as virus amplification, lethal chain of transmission, crash and bleed, or major pucker factor.†
p. 287.6

Definitions:

(1) (factor as in: It was the deciding factor.)
something that affects a result or outcome

You also may encounter x-factor or x factor--meaning "the most important thing that influences a result or outcome."
(2) (factor as in: factor it into your thinking)
include consideration of
(3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
There are many specialized meanings in fields such as mathematics, business, finance, biology, and grammar.