someone in a court of law, saying whether or not they are guilty of a charge: The accused entered a plea of 'not guilty'. 3 [S] rare an excuse: She left early on the plea of having a headache.
'plea, bargaining n [U] the practice of agreeing to say in a court of law that one is guilty of a small crime in exchange for not being charged with a greater one
plead /pliːd/ v pleaded or pled /pled/ especially Scott E & AmE
1 [l(for)] to ask very strongly and seriously and in a begging way: They wept and pleaded until we agreed to do as they wished. | She pleaded for more time to pay. | [+with+to-v] He pleaded with them to release his daughter. 2 [T] to give as an excuse for an action: I'm sorry I didn't answer your letter - I can only plead forgetfulness. 3 [l] law to answer a charge in court: The woman charged with murder was said to be mad and unfit to plead. 4 [T no pass.] law to declare in official language that one is (in a state of): 'Prisoner at the bar, how do you plead?' 'I plead not guilty.' | He pleaded insanity in the hope of getting a shorter sentence. 5 [T] to speak or argue in support of: The poor and unemployed have no one to plead their case for them. → see also SPECIAL PLEADING
pleas·ant /ˈplezənt/ adj 1 giving one a feeling of enjoyment or happiness: What a pleasant surprise! | a flower with a pleasant smell 2 (especially of a person) likeable; friendly: She seems a pleasant woman. | I know you're annoyed, but please make an effort to be pleasant to him. | a pleasant smile 3 (of weather) fine: It's quite pleasant today, though the wind is rather cool. → opposite UNPLEASANT ︷ly adv
pleas·ant·ry /'plezəntri/ n fml an amusing or not very serious remark made especially in order to be polite: They exchanged the usual pleasantries before getting down to discussing business.
please¹ /pliːz/ v [not in progressive forms] 1 [ɑːT] to make (someone) happy; give satisfaction (to): The girl in the shop is always eager to please (everyone). I didn't want it myself; I only got it to please you. He wasn't at all pleased (=was angry) when he found out. There's no pleasing some people. (=It is impossible to satisfy certain people.) → opposite DISPLEASE 2 [l+adv/prep] (not as the main verb of a sentence) to want; like: You can have wine, beer, fruit juice – whichever you please. He just does what he pleases and never thinks about anyone else. They can appoint whoever they please. 3 if you please a) fml (used to give force after a request) PLEASE: Come this way, if you please. b) old-fashion you believe this?: He's broken my bicycle, and now, if you please, he wants me to get it mended so that he can use it again! 4 please God fml I hope: Please God they'll all return safely. 5 please oneself a) to do whatever one likes, without having to obey others: We don't have to be back in the hotel by a certain time; we can just please ourselves. b) [imperative] infml (especially showing annoyance) Do whatever you like, it doesn't matter to me.
please $ ^{2} $ interj 1 (used when asking politely for something). It is considered rude not to say 'please' if one does not know the other person very well indeed: A cup of tea, please. | Can we go now, please? 2 (used to give force to a request or wish): Please, sir, I don't understand. | Will you please keep quiet! 3 usually yes, please — yes I accept and am grateful: 'Would you like a cup of coffee?' 'Please, I'd love one.'
pleased /pliːzd/ adj 1 [(with, about)] happy or satisfied: I always feel pleased when I've finished a piece of work. | She had a pleased look on her face. | Are you pleased with your new car? (=is it satisfactory) | 'She's given up that boyfriend of hers.' 'I'm pleased about that.' | [+(that)] I'm very pleased you've decided to come. | [+to-v] We were pleased to hear about your new job. | ('I'm) pleased to meet you.' (=said when meeting someone for the first time) 2 be pleased to (do something) a) polite to be very willing to; be glad to: We will be pleased to offer any assistance you need. b) fml to have decided (as an act of favour) to: The Queen is graciously pleased to invite you to next month's garden party. 3 pleased with oneself often derog (too) satisfied with what one has done: He was looking very pleased with himself so I guessed he'd passed his driving test.
plea·sur·a·ble /ˈplezərəbəl/ adj fml enjoyable: I trust that you had a pleasurable journey. —bly adv: feeling pleasurably mellow after a good meal
pleasing /ˈpliːzɪŋ/ adj [(to)] fml or pomp 1 likeable; giving delight or enjoyment; pleasant: a pleasing young man | This wine is most pleasing to the taste. 2 giving satisfaction: We have made pleasing progress in our talks. ︷ly adv
pleasure /ˈplezər/ n 1 [U] the state or feeling of happiness or satisfaction resulting from an experience that one enjoys: small gifts that give a lot of pleasure and don't cost much | how to get more pleasure out of sex | It gave me no pleasure to have to tell them they were fired; I take no pleasure in (=do not enjoy) such things. → opposite DISPLEASURE 2 [U] doing things for fun rather than as work: Are you here on business or for pleasure? | a pleasure cruise 3 [C] a cause of happiness, enjoyment, or satisfaction: It's been a great pleasure to talk to you. | Some old people have very few pleasures in life. 4 [S(of)] polite enjoyment gained by doing or having something: May I have the pleasure of the next dance with you? | I had the pleasure of meeting your parents yesterday. 5 [S] polite something that is not inconvenient and that one is happy to do; an expression often used to be polite even if the speaker is not happy: 'Thank you for helping me.' 'My pleasure/It was a pleasure.' 6 [S] fml or polite desire; wish: These arrangements can be changed at your pleasure. (=as you wish or decide) | Is it your pleasure that I sign the minutes of the last meeting as correct? 7 during his/her majesty's pleasure BrE law with no fixed limit on the time one is kept in prison 8 with pleasure polite willingly: 'Would you take this along to the office for me?' 'With pleasure.'
'pleasure beach n BrE a place of outdoor entertainment at the seaside, with large machines to ride on and other amusements → compare FAIR
'pleasure, boat also 'pleasure, craft n a boat that someone uses for fun rather than for business
'pleasure ,seeker n somebody who does something for enjoyment without considering other people
pleat¹ /pliːt/ n a flattened narrow fold in cloth
pleat² v [T] to make pleats in: a pleated skirt
pleb /pleb/ n [otten pl.] infml derog a member of the lower social classes ~~by adj
plebe /pliːb/ n AmE infml a first-year student at a military or naval college or university
ple•be•ian /pli'biən/ n, adj 1 derog (a member) of the lower social classes: plebeian tastes in food 2 (in ancient Rome) (a member) of the common people → compare PATRICIAN
pleb·is·cite /'plebʒsʌtˈsaɪt/ n a direct vote of the people of a country to decide a matter of national importance: The choice of whether to join the federation was decided by plebiscite. → compare REFERENDUM
plec•trum /'plektrəm/ also pick BrE infml || pick AmE — n a small thin piece of plastic, metal etc held between the fingers and used for playing certain stringed instruments, such as the GUITAR, by quickly pulling at the strings
pled /pled/ ScotE & AmE past tense & participle of PLEAD
pledge¹ /pledʒ/ n 1 [C] (especially in newspapers) a solemn promise or agreement: [+to-v] They made a firm pledge to support us. | an election pledge to reduce taxes | [+that] The government has given a pledge that it will halt the bombing. 2 [C(of)] something given or received as a sign of faithful love or friendship: Take this ring as a pledge of our friendship. 3 [C] something valuable left with someone else as proof that one will fulfil an agreement: She borrowed £50 and left her gold bracelet as a pledge. 4 sign/take the pledge old-fash to promise never to drink alcohol
pledge² v [T] 1 (especially in newspapers) to make a solemn promise of: They have pledged their support for our case. | The firm has most generously pledged (=promised to give) £10,000 as its contribution to the charity. | a nation pledging allegiance (=loyalty) to the flag | [+to-v] The government pledged to re-house the refugees. | [+that] They have pledged that any details given to them will remain confidential. 2 [(to)] fml to make (someone) give a solemn promise: I was pledged to secrecy. | [+obj+to-v] They pledged themselves never to tell the secret. 3 [(for) rare] to leave (something) with someone as a PLEDGE¹
Pledge of AI'legiance, the a speech that US citizens learn, which is a promise to respect the US and be loyal to it. In schools children usually say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, while looking at the national flag and putting their right hand over their heart: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the