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

Pfaadt had pink shoelaces on his cleats as a gender reveal for the baby that his brother, Brett, and his wife, Hannah, are expecting. —CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026

Despite his team’s 3-4-2 record, Stydahar played in the East-West Shrine Bowl and the College All-Star Charity Football Game (for which equipment personnel had to search for a pair of size 12½ cleats). —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026

The thing about football is the cleats are coming off at some point in time. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026

Lee’s heroics came after an at-bat by Lewis in which the third baseman got his cleat stuck in the dirt and twisted his knee, prompting a visit from a team trainer. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 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