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 a morning spent at full speed, Warren and a group of teammates take off their cleats and walk around the field, talking through what went well, what went wrong and whatever else happened during practice. — Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

Similarly, soccer cleats are available in elite firm, pro firm, laceless, foldover tongue or turf or ground. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

The company’s cutbacks continue despite some recent high-profile sports marketing victories, including distance runner Sharon Lokedi’s second straight Boston Marathon title and Ferran Torres’ World Cup-winning goal for Spain in UA cleats. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Wattenberg didn’t practice but had cleats on and a harness on his left shoulder. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 6 Aug. 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