petitionpe•ti•tion /pɪ'tɪʃ(ə)n/

n C

1. 请愿；请愿书

• How many names did the petition have? 那份请愿书上有多少人签名呢？

• oppose a petition 反对请愿

2. 正式的请求；诉状

• The townspeople sent a petition to the Government asking for more housing developments. 市民向市政府递交请愿书，要求为该市增建住宅。

• a petition in bankruptcy 破产申请书

3. 正式 祈求，祷告；祷文

• She made a silent petition to God for help. 她默默地祈求上帝的保佑。