plead /pli:d/ (pleaded 或 AmE. pled /pled/) vt. & vi. 1. 恳求，请求(指连续不断的)： plead with sb. for pity 求人怜悯 She wept and pleaded until he agreed to do as she wished.她不断地哭泣恳求，直到他同意照她的意愿去办为止。2. 为…辩护: have a lawyer plead one’s case 请律师辩护案子；plead the rights of the unemployed 为失业者的权力辩护 3. 提出…为理由(或借口): The thief pleaded poverty.那贼以贫穷为托词。［考句］ He could not plead ignorance as his excuse; he should have known what was happening in his department.他不能以无知为借口，他早该知道在他离开期间所发生的事情。