Main Entry: Rus·sia

Pronunciation: \ˈrə-shə\

Variant(s): or Russian Ros·si·ya \rä-ˈsē-yə\

Function: geographical name

1or formerly Mus·co·vy \ˈməs-kə-vē\ former empire E Europe & N Asia coextensive (except for Finland & Kars, a mountainous region now in NE Turkey) with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ∗ St. Petersburg
2 the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics —a popular usage despite the fact that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics included other republics besides Russia
3or officially Russian Federation independent country in E Europe & N Asia bordering on Arctic & Pacific oceans & on Baltic & Black seas; a constituent republic (Russian Republic or Soviet Russia ) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 1922–91 ∗ Moscow area 6,592,812 square miles (17,075,383 square kilometers), population 148,000,000