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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | agnian, from agen 'own' |
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own2 S2 W2 [transitive not in progressive]
1 to have something which belongs to you, especially because you have bought it, been given it etc and it is legally yours [↪ possess]: 
The building is owned by the local council.You need to get permission from the farmer who owns the land. Many more people now own their own homes. the cost of owning a car
The building is owned by the local council.You need to get permission from the farmer who owns the land.Many more people now own their own homes.the cost of owning a car publicly/privately owned British English (=belonging to the government or a private organization) a privately owned company
a privately owned company2 to behave in a way that is too confident and upsets other people : She acts like she owns the place! They walked in as if they owned the place.
as if/as though/like you own the place
informalShe acts like she owns the place!They walked in as if they owned the place.3 old-fashioned to admit that something is true
own up
phrasal verbCome on, own up. Who broke it? own up to (doing) something No one owned up to breaking the window. He was too frightened to own up to his mistake. He still wouldn't own up to the fact that he'd lied.
No one owned up to breaking the window.He was too frightened to own up to his mistake.He still wouldn't own up to the fact that he'd lied.
