Siberia

[ sahy-beer-ee-uh ]

noun

1. Russian Sibirʾ. an extensive region in the Russian Federation in N Asia, extending from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific.
2. any undesirable or isolated locale, job, etc., to which one is assigned as punishment, a mark of disfavor, or the like.

Siberia

/ saɪˈbɪərɪə /

noun

1. a vast region of Russia and N Kazakhstan: extends from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific and from the Arctic Ocean to the borders with China and Mongolia; colonized after the building of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Area: 13 807 037 sq km (5 330 896 sq miles)

Siberia

1. Region of Russia stretching from north-central to northeastern Asia .

Notes

As a consequence of Siberia's harsh conditions and its historical function as a place of punishment, to be “sent to Siberia” has become a metaphor for demotion, disgrace, or other forms of status diminution.

Known for its vast space, long and severely cold winters, and few inhabitants widely scattered in small settlements, Siberia has been for many centuries a place of political and criminal exile for Russians who anger the government's authorities.

Other Words From

• Si·beri·an adjective noun
• trans-Si·beri·an adjective

Example Sentences

Comparing the DNA with that from wolves, ancient dogs and modern dog breeds allowed the team to estimate when the dog last shared an ancestor with dogs from Siberia.

From Science News

Over the past week, a high-pressure ridge of air has sat in the lower atmosphere around Siberia.

From Popular-Science

The analyses showed that despite Siberia’s harsh climate, groups near Lake Baikal and regions further east mixed with various populations in and outside of Siberia from the Late Stone Age up to medieval times.

From Science News

Ancient people brought the plague to Siberia by about 4,400 years ago, which may have led to collapses in the population there, a new genetic analysis suggests.

From Science News

Polyus PJSC, Russia’s largest gold producer, said its untapped Sukhoi Log deposit in Siberia holds the world’s biggest reserves.

From Fortune

Two years into an Arctic expedition, they were forced to abandon ship a thousand miles north of Siberia.

From The Daily Beast

Granted, in Siberia they had a lack of calories while we had a limited number of seats in the yard to watch ‘Jackass Part II’.

From The Daily Beast

He expanded Russian rule into Siberia, his success due to almost nobody being there.

From The Daily Beast

He was standing in front of the firing squad when his sentence was commuted to exile in Siberia.

From The Daily Beast

While exploring Moscow and Siberia, Makhorov and Raskalov explain what motivates their adventures.

From The Daily Beast

He suffered severely in Siberia; at thirty-seven he appeared to be fifty.

From Project Gutenberg

The white squirrel of Siberia seems to differ only in colour from our common squirrel.

From Project Gutenberg

Omsk is the center of that military organization of Western Siberia which is intended to overawe the Kirghiz population.

From Project Gutenberg

"There are other offenders besides political exiles in Siberia," said the chief of police.

From Project Gutenberg

This traitor, impelled by insane ambition as much as by hate, had ordered the movement so as to attack Siberia.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• oblivion