ˈäˌblȧst, ˈȯˌ- noun
( plural oblasts -sts ; also oblasti -stē)
Etymology: Russian oblast' province, oblast, from Old Slavic, from ob- (from ob to, on) + -vlast' dominion, government; akin to Latin ob to, before, against and to Lithuanian veldėti to rule — more at epi- , wield
: a governmental subdivision of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics corresponding to an autonomous province or state