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

Baseball equipment manufacturers pay MLB players to wear their apparel, batting gloves, cleats, gloves and helmets, but bat deals are unique, as players are rarely paid to swing a bat. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 4 July 2025

Participants must have proper safety gear (cleats and shin guards; no metal or ceramic cleats). —Ana Gutierrez Austin American Statesman, Gutierrez Ana Austin American Statesman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Maria Navarro decided to concentrate solely on tennis this season and exchanged her soccer cleats for tennis shoes. —Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2025

Excitement reverberated throughout the Santa Clara Youth Soccer Park as city officials unveiled the host city plaque to a crowd of kids clad in cleats and jerseys who were eager to take part in a youth soccer clinic led by former San Jose Earthquakes player Shea Salinas. —Grace Hase, Mercury News, 12 June 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