/ob"last, -lahst/ ; Russ. /aw"bleuhst/ , n. , pl. oblasts , Russ. oblasti /aw"bleuh styee/ .
1. (in Russia and the Soviet Union) an administrative division corresponding to an autonomous province.
2. region; province.
[ 1885-90; óblast', ORuss oblasti, equiv. to ob- against, on + vlasti authority, power; see VOLOST ]