(physics) a factor arising frequently in special relativity, to calculate the degree of time dilation, length contraction and relativistic mass of an object moving relative to an observer, defined as (1-v²/c²)^(-0.5), where v and c are relative velocity and the speed of light, respectively

The sleazy or sordid aspect of a political situation. / The corrupt or tainted element of a political party or administration.

(economics) The phenomenon whereby many small purchases add up to a significant expenditure over time.

A factor that encourages one to leave one's current home, region, country, organization, or religion.

A measure of the quality of an electric circuit; the ratio of the reactance to the resistance.

(in an electromagnetic coil) The ratio of the volume occupied by the wire in the winding, or the iron in the core, to the total volume of the winding or the core

(idiomatic) The emotional dimension of decision-making. A person's subjective (often almost visceral) feelings about what is right or wrong, good or bad.

(science fiction) A hypothetical figure describing a speed of one light-year per hour.

(electrical, engineering) The ratio of the actual power to the apparent power in an alternating current power system; specifically, the cosine of the phase angle between the voltage and the current.

(engineering) The ratio of the maximum stress or load which something can withstand to the stress or load which it was designed to withstand under normal operation.