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

Rigo Torres isn’t the biggest player on the field, maybe 5-foot-7 with the cleats laced. —Stan Awtrey, AJC.com, 16 May 2026

Grant dug her cleats into the Easton Stadium batter’s box, waiting as Northern Colorado pitcher Ellyse Hydock tried to float a changeup past Grant in the bottom of the third inning. —Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 15 May 2026

Tyler got his new cleats anyway. —New York Daily News, 9 May 2026

When players laced up their cleats for their first home game last month, the team played at UConn’s Morrone Stadium in Storrs. —P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026

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

Rhymes for cleat

• beat
• beet
• bleat
• cheat
• creat
• deet
• eat
• feat
• feet
• fleet
• greet
• heat

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