vilnius

noun

1. a city in and the capital of Lithuania, in the SE part: formerly in the Soviet Union and earlier in Poland.

noun

1. a republic in N Europe, on the Baltic: an independent state 1918–40; annexed by the Soviet Union 1940; regained independence 1991. 25,174 sq. mi. (65,200 sq. km). Capital: Vilnius.

noun

1. the capital of Lithuania: passed to Russia in 1795; under Polish rule (1920–39); university (1578); an industrial and commercial centre. Pop: 544 000 (2005 est)Russian name: Vilna (ˈvilna) Polish name: Wilno

noun

1. a republic in NE Europe, on the Baltic Sea: a grand duchy in medieval times; united with Poland in 1569; occupied by Russia in 1795 and by Germany during World War I; independent Lithuania formed in 1918, but occupied by Soviet troops in 1919 and then by Poland; became a Soviet republic in 1940; unilaterally declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990; recognized as independent in 1991; joined the EU in 2004. Official language: Lithuanian. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: litas. Capital: Vilnius. Pop: 3 515 858 (2013 est). Area: 65 200 sq km (25 174 sq miles)Also called: Lithuanian Republic Lithuanian name: Lietuva

Baltic nation, from Lithuanian Lietuva, of unknown origin, perhaps from a PIE source related to Latin litus “shore” and thus meaning “shoreland.” Related: Lithuanian.

Republic on the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and southeast, Poland to the south, and by an isolated segment of Russia to the southwest. Its capital and largest city is Vilnius.