play|wright /ple I ra I t/ (playwrights ) N‑COUNT A playwright is a person who writes plays.
pla|za /plɑː zə, [AM ] plæ zə/ (plazas )
1 N‑COUNT A plaza is an open square in a city. □ Across the busy plaza, vendors sell hot dogs and croissant sandwiches.
2 N‑COUNT A plaza is a group of stores or buildings that are joined together or share common areas. [AM ]
plc /piː el siː / (plcs ) also PLC N‑COUNT [usu sing, usu n N ] In Britain, plc means a company whose shares can be bought by the public and is usually used after the name of a company. plc is an abbreviation for 'public limited company'. Compare Ltd . [BUSINESS ] □ …British Telecommunications plc.
plea /pliː / (pleas )
1 N‑COUNT [N to-inf] A plea is an appeal or request for something, made in an intense or emotional way. [JOURNALISM ] □ [+ for ] Mr Nicholas made his emotional plea for help in solving the killing.
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 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. □ [+ of ] The jury rejected his 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 If an accused person plea bargains , they accept a plea bargain. □ [V ] More and more criminals will agree to plea-bargain. ● plea bar|gain|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …the introduction of a system of plea bargaining.
plead /pliː d/ (pleads , pleading , pleaded )
1 VERB If you plead with someone to do something, you ask them in an intense, emotional way to do it. □ [V + with ] The lady pleaded with her daughter to come back home. □ [V + for ] He was kneeling on the floor pleading for mercy. □ [V with quote] 'Do not say that,' she pleaded. □ [V to-inf] I pleaded to be allowed to go. [Also V , V that]
2 VERB When someone charged with a crime pleads guilty or not guilty in a court of law, they officially state that they are guilty or not guilty of the crime. □ [V adj] Morris had pleaded guilty to robbery.
3 VERB If you plead the case or cause of someone or something, you speak out in their support or defence. □ [V n] He appeared before the Committee to plead his case.
4 VERB If you plead a particular thing as the reason for doing or not doing something, you give it as your excuse. □ [V n] Mr Giles pleads ignorance as his excuse. □ [V that] It was no defence to plead that they were only obeying orders.
plead|ing /pliː d I ŋ/ (pleadings )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A pleading expression or gesture shows someone that you want something very much. □ …the pleading expression on her face. ● plead|ing|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ He looked at me pleadingly.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Pleading is asking someone for something you want very much, in an intense or emotional way. □ He simply ignored Sid's pleading.
3 → see also special pleading
pleas|ant ◆◇◇ /ple z ə nt/ (pleasanter , pleasantest )
1 ADJ [ADJ to-inf] Something that is pleasant is nice, enjoyable, or attractive. □ I've got a pleasant little apartment. □ It's always pleasant to do what you're good at doing. ● pleas|ant|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ We talked pleasantly of old times.
2 ADJ [oft ADJ to-inf] Someone who is pleasant is friendly and likeable. □ The woman had a pleasant face.
pleas|ant|ry /ple z ə ntri/ (pleasantries ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Pleasantries are casual, friendly remarks which you make in order to be polite. □ [+ about ] He exchanged pleasantries about his hotel and the weather.
please ◆◆◇ /pliː z/ (pleases , pleasing , pleased )
1 ADV You say please when you are politely asking or inviting someone to do something. [POLITENESS ] □ Can you help us please? □ Would you please open the door? □ Please come in. □ 'May I sit here?'—'Please do.' □ Can we have the bill please?
2 ADV You say please when you are accepting something politely. [FORMULAE ] □ 'Tea?'—'Yes, please.' □ 'You want an apple with your cheese?'—'Please.'
3 CONVENTION You can say please to indicate that you want someone to stop doing something or stop speaking. You would say this if, for example, what they are doing or saying makes you angry or upset. [FEELINGS ] □ Please, Mary, this is all so unnecessary.
4 CONVENTION You can say please in order to attract someone's attention politely. Children in particular say ' please ' to attract the attention of a teacher or other adult. [mainly BRIT , POLITENESS ] □ Please sir, can we have some more?
5 VERB If someone or something pleases you, they make you feel happy and satisfied. □ [V n] More than anything, I want to please you. □ [V ] Much of the food pleases rather than excites. □ [V n to-inf] It pleased him to talk to her.