/pli:; pli/
n
1 (fml 文) ~ (for sth) earnest request; appeal 恳求; 请求
*a plea for forgiveness, money, more time 恳求原谅、给予金钱、多给些时间
* He was deaf to (ie refused to listen to) her pleas. 他对她的请求充耳不闻.
2 (law 律) statement made by or for a person charged with an offence in court （法庭中被告一方的）抗辩, 答辩, 辩护
*enter a plea of guilty/not guilty 承认有罪[不承认有罪].
3 (idm 习语) on the plea of sth/that... (fml 文) giving sth as the reason or excuse for not doing sth or for having done sth wrong （为未做某事或做错某事而作的）辩解, 托词, 藉口
*withdraw on the plea of ill health 藉口健康不佳而退出
* He refused to contribute, on the plea that he couldn't afford it. 他藉口无能为力拒不捐献.

n
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French;Origin: plait, plaid, from Latin placitum 'decision', from placere; PLEASE²]
[C]
a request that is urgent or full of emotion
plea for
　a plea for help
　Caldwell made a plea for donations.
plea to
　The parents made an emotional plea to their child's kidnappers.
[C usually singular]
a statement by someone in a court of law saying whether they are guilty or not
　a guilty plea
make/enter a plea
　Adams entered a plea of 'not guilty'.
[singular]
an excuse for something
　He refused the appointment on a plea of illness.