Pronunciation: bäsh- ' ko ̇ r-t ə - ˌ stän, - ˌ stan
Variant: or Bash · kir Republic \ ˌ bash- ' kir, ˌ bäsh- \
Function: geographical name
autonomous republic E Russia in Europe in S Ural Mountains capital Ufa area 55,443 sq mi (143,597 sq km ), pop 4,008,000