plead vs pleading

plead is not a noun while pleading is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
plead	No	No	Yes	No
pleading	Yes	Yes	No	No

plead (noun)	pleading (noun)
	(law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding

plead (adjective)	pleading (adjective)
	begging

plead (verb)	pleading (verb)
appeal or request earnestly
enter a plea, as in courts of law
offer as an excuse or plea
make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding, especially answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts