cleat

noun

\ ˈklēt

Definition of cleat

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

2a : 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

verb

cleated; cleating; cleats

Definition of cleat (Entry 2 of 2)

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

The star athletes on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team ditched their cleats and hit the Microsoft Theatre in California on Wednesday. — Lindsay Kimble, PEOPLE.com, "The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Wins the ESPY Award for Best Team After World Cup Victory," 10 July 2019 The women also connected on something most of them didn’t have, and still couldn’t find: decent soccer cleats. — Meghan Mcdonough, Quartz, "Female soccer players are breaking world records to show they’re just as good as the guys," 7 July 2019 In more recent shoemaker strife, Adidas hit athletic apparel competitor Puma with an infringement complaint in 2017 over the four-stripe design of one of its soccer cleats. — Sangeeta Singh-kurtz, Quartzy, "Adidas has sued pretty much everyone who has used stripes," 21 June 2019 Pitching coach Roger Williams told him to bring his cleats to TD Ameritrade Park both days just in case Louisville needed him, but he was never scheduled to pitch against Auburn. — Cameron Teague Robinson, The Courier-Journal, "Meet Louisville baseball's starter for its elimination game vs. Mississippi State," 20 June 2019 The boys and their coach entered the Tham Luang cave complex in far northern Thailand after soccer practice last June 23, leaving their bicycles and soccer cleats outside the entrance. — Washington Post, "Thai cave boys mark year since ordeal with Buddhist rites," 25 June 2019 The replay seemed to show minimal contact between a Spain player’s cleat and Lavelle’s calf. — Alicia Delgallo, Pro Soccer USA, "USWNT sneaks by Spain 2-1 in gritty World Cup match, advances to quarterfinals," 25 June 2019 Plus, running in cleats in the snow offered more of a challenge than actual miles. — Mary Beth Skylis, Outside Online, "How Jeff Garmire Set the Arizona Trail FKT," 15 June 2019 With that in mind, the optics of Nebraska football’s new Adidas cleats aren’t the best. — Andrew Joseph, For The Win, "Football fans had plenty of jokes for Nebraska's money-themed Adidas cleats," 9 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Vikings safety Anthony Harris, who enrolled at Virginia a year after Love’s death, also has worn One Love Foundation cleats each of the past two seasons. — Chris Tomasson, Twin Cities, "Vikings’ Stephen Weatherly helping tackle unhealthy relationships," 8 July 2019 The Elks defeated the Red Sox, 11-6, in a game that offered a double whammy to La Cañada, which had a player ejected and suspended for allegedly cleating an Elks player on a play at first base. — Andrew J. Campa, latimes.com, "Robust Glendale Juniors baseball tournament ends with cancelation," 24 May 2018 Abby Cavaiani put her soccer cleats back on this spring for the first time in years. — Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Kettle Moraine grad Cavaiani continues impressive rise as she qualifies for Junior PGA Championship for second straight year," 6 July 2018 Medics sat in a tent nearby, and bicycles, backpacks and soccer cleats the boys left behind remained at the entrance. — Tassanee Vejpongsa, Fox News, "US, UK teams join Thailand's search for 13 missing in cave," 28 June 2018 Medics sat in a tent nearby, and bicycles, backpacks and soccer cleats the boys left behind remained at the entrance. — Tassanee Vejpongsa, Houston Chronicle, "Rain, high water complicate cave search for Thai soccer team," 27 June 2018 Medics sat in a tent nearby, and bicycles, backpacks and soccer cleats the boys left behind remained at the entrance. — Washington Post, "Rain, high water complicate cave search for Thai soccer team," 27 June 2018 Medics sat in a tent nearby, and bicycles, backpacks and soccer cleats the boys left behind remained at the entrance. — NBC News, "Rescue of Thai soccer team trapped in cave complicated by heavy rains," 27 June 2018 Medics sat in a tent nearby, and bicycles, backpacks and soccer cleats the boys left behind remained at the entrance. — Tassanee Vejpongsa, Houston Chronicle, "Rain, high water complicate cave search for Thai soccer team," 27 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cleat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.