plea
plea /pl'iː/ (pleas)
1 [N-COUNT] oft N for n, N to-inf
A plea is an appeal or request for something, made in an intense or emotional way. (JOURNALISM)
Mr Nicholas made his emotional plea for help in solving the killing.
= appeal
2 [N-COUNT] usu adj N, N of adj
In a court of law, a person's plea is the answer that they give when they have been charged with a crime, saying whether or not they are guilty of that crime.
The judge questioned him about his guilty plea...
We will enter a plea of not guilty...
3 [N-COUNT] usu N of n
A plea is a reason which is given, to a court of law or to other people, as an excuse for doing something or for not doing something.
Phillips murdered his wife, but got off on a plea of insanity...plea bar|gain (plea bargains plea bargaining plea bargained)
1 [N-COUNT]
In some legal systems, a plea bargain is an agreement that, if an accused person says they are guilty, they will be charged with a less serious crime or will receive a less severe punishment.
A plea bargain was offered by the state assuring her that she would not go to prison.
2 [VERB] V
If an accused person plea bargains, they accept a plea bargain.
More and more criminals will agree to plea-bargain.
● plea bargaining [N-UNCOUNT]
...the introduction of a system of plea bargaining.
1 [N-COUNT] oft N for n, N to-inf
A plea is an appeal or request for something, made in an intense or emotional way. (JOURNALISM)
Mr Nicholas made his emotional plea for help in solving the killing.
= appeal
2 [N-COUNT] usu adj N, N of adj
In a court of law, a person's plea is the answer that they give when they have been charged with a crime, saying whether or not they are guilty of that crime.
The judge questioned him about his guilty plea...
We will enter a plea of not guilty...
3 [N-COUNT] usu N of n
A plea is a reason which is given, to a court of law or to other people, as an excuse for doing something or for not doing something.
Phillips murdered his wife, but got off on a plea of insanity...plea bar|gain (plea bargains plea bargaining plea bargained)
1 [N-COUNT]
In some legal systems, a plea bargain is an agreement that, if an accused person says they are guilty, they will be charged with a less serious crime or will receive a less severe punishment.
A plea bargain was offered by the state assuring her that she would not go to prison.
2 [VERB] V
If an accused person plea bargains, they accept a plea bargain.
More and more criminals will agree to plea-bargain.
● plea bargaining [N-UNCOUNT]
...the introduction of a system of plea bargaining.