# Russian

Pronunciation: say "RUSH-uhn" /ˈɹʌʃ(ə)n/

## Adjective

1. Relating to Russia, its people, culture, institutions, or language.
   - Simple: Having to do with Russia, its people, its culture, or the Russian language.
   - _The museum displayed Russian paintings from the nineteenth century._
   - _Their family still follows many Russian customs at holidays._

## Noun

2. A person from Russia, whether by citizenship or as a member of the East Slavic people native to Russia.
   - Simple: A person from Russia, or a person whose family belongs to the Russian people.
   - _Every Russian over eighteen could cast a ballot that day._
   - _Thousands of Russians live abroad while keeping their citizenship._
3. The East Slavic language that serves as the official language of Russia.
   - Simple: The main language spoken by people in Russia.
   - _He is teaching himself Russian from online recordings._
   - _Russian has a complex system of noun cases._
7. A Russian Blue: a breed of short-haired, blue-gray domestic cat associated with Russia, or a cat of this breed.
   - Simple: A type of pet cat with short blue-gray fur that comes from Russia.
   - _The Russian is known for its quiet, gentle temperament._
   - _British cat shows first gave the Russian a class of its own in 1912._
8. A kind of sausage derived from the Russian sausage known as kolbasa. *(South Africa)*
   - Simple: A type of sausage based on a Russian recipe called kolbasa.
   - _At the school fair they sold Russians in rolls, smothered in fried onions and tomato sauce._
   - _Order a Russian and chips at a Cape Town corner cafe and you get a fat, smoky sausage with a pile of fries._

## Adjective

4. Relating to the Soviet Union or its government and institutions. *(dated)*
   - Simple: Connected with the former Soviet Union and its government.
   - _The Russian bloc dominated Eastern Europe for decades after the war._
   - _In the 1970s, diplomats negotiated arms limits with the Russian government in Moscow._
6. Relating to Rus, the medieval East Slavic state centered on Kiev. *(dated)*
   - Simple: Connected with Rus, an early medieval land of the Slavs.
   - _Russian merchants of the tenth century traded furs with Byzantium._
   - _The Russian lands were divided among rival princes after Yaroslav's death._

## Noun

5. A person who is from the Soviet Union. *(dated)*
   - Simple: A person who came from the former Soviet Union.

## Verb

9. To compel or force someone to act through Russian influence or pressure. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To force someone to act because of Russian pressure.

## Other meanings

- (noun) A type of juggling ball with a hard outer shell, filled with salt, sand, or a similar material.
- (noun) A firearm, in slang reflecting a gang preference for Russian-made weapons.
- (noun) A person from or near the Brandon Estate, an area also called Moscow.

## Origin

From Medieval Latin (11th century) Russianus, from Russia, a Latinized form of the Old East Slavic Русь (Rusĭ), plus the ending -anus meaning "of or pertaining to". It is attested in English as both noun and adjective from the 16th century.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/russian (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).