Russia

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɹʌ.ʃə/
• Rhymes: -ʌʃə

Origin

1538, from Medieval Latin Russi ("Russians").

Ultimately from Byzantine Greek Ρωσία (whence also Russian Россия (Rossíja, "Russia")) from an earlier (10th century) ethnonym Ῥῶς (Rhōs) (Arabic روس, Old East Slavic Русь ("Rus")).

Full definition of Russia

Proper noun

1. A country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The Country extends from the Gulf of Finland to the Pacific Ocean, and was part of the USSR from 1922 to 1991. Co-official name - Russian Federation, formerly the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR), Capital and largest city Moscow
2. (historical, informal) The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (a very common name, although more formally Russia, the RSFSR, was one of several constituent republics of the USSR).
3. (historical) The Russian Empire.
4. (historical, dated) Rus, the medieval East Slavic state.

Derived terms

• Black Russia
• Great Russia
• Kievan Russia
• Little Russia
• Mother Russia
• New Russia
• Russia calf
• Russia iron
• Russia leather
• Russia linen
• Russia mat
• Russia matting
• Russian
• White Russia

Related terms

• Soviet Union historical
• Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
• Russian Federation
• Russian SFSR