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. Petersburg2the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics —a popular usage despite the fact that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics included other republics besides Russia3or 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