factory
/ˈfæktərɪ/noun
(pl. -ies)
1
- a building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured or assembled chiefly by machine工厂。
1.1
- with modifier figurative a person, group, or institution that produces a great quantity of something on a regular basis or in a short space of time〈喻〉（定期或短时内的）批量生产者：
the group have become a rock-and-roll hit factory.
这一演唱组合简直成了具有轰动效应的摇滚乐的制造厂了。
2
- historical an establishment for traders carrying on business in a foreign country〈史〉（在外国的）代理店, 代理行。
词源
late 16th cent. (in sense 2)： via Portuguese feitoria from medieval Latin factoria, from Latin factor （see FACTOR）. Sense 1 based on late Latin factorium, literally 'oil press'.