Real Dictionary

appeal
An appeal is a serious and urgent request.
An appeal is an attempt to raise money for a charity or for a good cause.
verb: If you appeal to someone to do something, you make a serious and urgent request to them.

appeal in American English
to appeal a law case to a higher court
to make a request to a higher court for the rehearing or review of (a case)
intransitive verb: to ask for aid, support, mercy, sympathy, or the like; make an earnest entreaty
noun: an earnest request for aid, support, sympathy, mercy, etc.; entreaty; petition; plea
transitive verb: to apply for review of (a case) to a higher tribunal

appeal in British English
noun: a request for relief, aid, etc
verb: to make an earnest request for relief, support, etc