Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - petition

~1 n 1 a written request signed by a lot of people, asking someone in authority to do something or change something + agains  (They wanted me to sign a petition against experiments on animals.) draw up a ~  (Local residents have drawn up a petition to protest the hospital closure.) 2 an official letter to a law court, asking for a legal case to be considered  (She is threatening to file a petition for divorce.) 3 formal a formal prayer or request to someone in authority or to God or to a ruler ~2 v 1 to ask the government or an organization to do something by sending it a petition ~ sb to do sth  (Villagers petitioned the local authority to provide better bus services.) + against/for  (Residents are petitioning against the new road.) 2 to make a formal request to someone in authority, to a court of law, or to God