Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - russia

 or ~n Rossiya  geographical name  1. (or formerly Muscovy) 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 capital St. Petersburg  2. the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics  3. (or officially ~n Federation) independent country in E Europe & N Asia bordering on Arctic & Pacific oceans & on Baltic & Black seas; a constituent republic ( ~n Republic (or Soviet ~) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 1922-91 capital Moscow area 6,592,812 square miles (17,075,383 square kilometers), population 148,000,000)