1 ~ (with sb) (for sth) to ask sb for sth in a very strong and serious way:
[V] She pleaded with him not to go. * I was forced to plead for my child's life. * pleading eyes * [Vtoinf] He pleaded to be allowed to see his mother one more time. * [Vspeech] 'Do something!' she pleaded.
2 to state in a court of law that you are guilty or not guilty of a crime:
[V-ADJ] to plead guilty / not guilty * [V] How do you plead? (= said by the judge at the start of the trial) * The accused was deemed unfit to plead. * [VN] [nopassive] He advised his client to plead insanity (= say that he / she was mentally ill and therefore not responsible for his / her actions).
3 [VN] to present a case to a court of law:
They hired a top lawyer to plead their case.
4 ~ sth (for sth) to give sth as an explanation or excuse for sth: [VN] [nopassive] He pleaded family problems for his lack of concentration. [also Vthat]
5 ~ (for sb/sth) to argue in support of sb/sth:
[VN] She appeared on television to plead the cause of political prisoners everywhere. * [V] The United Nations has pleaded for a halt to the bombing.
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