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

After hanging up his cleats, Sharpe didn’t slow down. —Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

According to the story, Stevens has produced more than a dozen pairs of custom cleats for Scott since 2023. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2025

Gronk played one more season in Tampa before hanging up his cleats for good and later embarking on a career as a television analyst for FOX and pitchman for USAA and Pizza Hut. —Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025

The biggest empty cleats in the Big 12 are Sanders’ Nikes — a legacy that stretches 4,134 passing yards (CU single-season record) long and 64 touchdowns (CU’s career passing mark) deep. —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2025

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