divisor

[ dih-vahy-zer ]

noun

, Mathematics.

1. a number by which another number, the dividend, is divided.
2. a number contained in another given number a certain integral number of times, without a remainder.

divisor

/ dɪˈvaɪzə /

noun

1. a number or quantity to be divided into another number or quantity (the dividend)
2. a number that is a factor of another number

divisor

/ dĭ-vī′zər /

1. A number used to divide another. In the equation 15 ÷ 3 = 5, 3 is the divisor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of divisor¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin dīvīsor, one who divides, equivalent to dīvīd- (variant stem of dīvidere to divide ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

As is common in number theory, the conjecture deals with prime numbers that exactly divide a given number—what mathematicians call prime divisors.

From Scientific American

But to keep things like stock splits and changes in its component stocks from distorting the Dow, its administrators created something called the Dow divisor.

From Washington Post

Forty-two is also a “practical” number, which means that any integer between 1 and 42 is the sum of a subset of its distinct divisors.

From Scientific American

The S&P will change what is known as the “Dow divisor,” the number it uses to calculate the Dow’s level.

From Seattle Times

Any integer can be factored into prime numbers, its ‘divisors’: for example, 60 = 5 x 3 x 2 x 2.

From Nature