noun A formal written request made by an individual or a group of people to a sovereign or political authority, often containing many signatures, soliciting some grace, right, mercy, or the redress of some wrong or grievance. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
We're looking to get 10,000 people to sign the petition to have the bird colony given legal protection.
noun A formal written application made to a magistrate or court for an order or a suit for divorce.
noun A prayer or supplication, especially of which is formal or humble and made to a deity, a sovereign, or an authority.
a petition to aid
verb To make a petition to (a sovereign or political authority).
The villagers petitioned the council to demolish the dangerous building.