1. 恳求；请求
    A plea is an appeal or request for something, made in an intense or emotional way.

plea的近义词

    e.g. Mr Nicholas made his emotional plea for help in solving the killing.
           尼古拉斯先生恳请帮助以解决这起凶杀案。
    e.g. ...an impassioned plea to mankind to act to save the planet.
           让人类行动起来拯救这个星球的慷慨激昂的呼吁

2. （法庭上表明对于被指控的罪名服或不服的）申诉，答辩，抗辩
    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.

    e.g. The judge questioned him about his guilty plea...
           法官就他的认罪答辩进行审问。
    e.g. We will enter a plea of not guilty...
           我们将进行无罪抗辩。

3. 辩由；借口；托词
    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.

    e.g. Phillips murdered his wife, but got off on a plea of insanity...
           菲利普斯谋杀了他的妻子，但以精神错乱为由逃脱了惩罚。
    e.g. Mr Dunn's pleas of poverty are only partly justified.
           邓恩先生贫穷的托词只是部分成立。