cleat

1 of 2

noun

ˈklēt 

1

a

: a wedge-shaped piece fastened to or projecting from something and serving as a support or check

b

: a wooden or metal fitting usually with two projecting horns around which a rope may be made fast

2

a

: a strip fastened across something to give strength or hold in position

b(1)

: a projecting piece (as on the bottom of a shoe) that furnishes a grip

(2)

cleats plural : shoes equipped with cleats

cleat

2 of 2

verb

cleated; cleating; cleats

transitive verb

1

: to secure to or by a cleat

2

: to provide with a cleat

Examples of cleat in a Sentence

Noun

a football player wearing cleats

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

An emotional Morgan then took off her cleats in the middle of the pitch, before walking off the field in tears. —Ben Church, CNN, 9 Sep. 2024

The 35-year-old forward then walked off the pitch with her cleats in her hands. —Manasi Pathak, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

Meanwhile, in Kansas City, Taylor Swift arrives for a Chiefs game, and her boyfriend Travis Kelce carries his cleats to the field. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

The moment comes at a peculiar time where more football players, both in pro and college, are being marketed heavily alongside footwear companies and emerging brands like New Balance, which released its first cleat this summer. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English clete wedge, from Old English *clēat; akin to Middle High German klōz lump — more at clout

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cleat

noun

ˈklēt

1

: a wooden or metal device around which a rope may be made fast

2

: a strip or projection fastened on or across something (as a shoe) to give strength or a place to hold or to prevent slipping