cleat

[kleet]

noun

1. a wedge-shaped block fastened to a surface to serve as a check or support.

   He nailed cleats into the sides of the bookcase to keep the supports from slipping.

2. a strip of metal, wood, or the like, fastened across a surface, as a ramp or gangway, to provide sure footing or to maintain an object in place.

3. a strip of wood, metal, etc., fastened across a surface, as of a plank or series of adjacent planks, for strength or support.

4. a conical or rectangular projection, usually of hard rubber, or a metal strip with sharp projections, built into or attached to the sole of a shoe to provide greater traction.

5. a shoe fitted with such projections.

6. a metal plate fastened to the sole or heel of a shoe, to protect against wear.

7. Shipbuilding.,  a hook-shaped piece of metal supporting a small structural member.

8. Also called belaying cleat. Nautical.,  an object of wood or metal having one or two projecting horns to which ropes may be belayed, especially as fixed to the deck, bulkhead, or stanchion of a vessel.

9. the cleavage plane of coal as found in a mine.

verb (used with object)

1. to supply or strengthen with cleats; fasten to or with a cleat.

cleat

/ kliːt /

noun

1. a wedge-shaped block, usually of wood, attached to a structure to act as a support

2. a device consisting of two hornlike prongs projecting horizontally in opposite directions from a central base, used for securing lines on vessels, wharves, etc

3. a short length of angle iron used as a bracket

4. a piece of metal, leather, etc, attached to the sole of a shoe to prevent wear or slipping

5. a small triangular-shaped nail used in glazing

6. any of the main cleavage planes in a coal seam

verb

1. to supply or support with a cleat or cleats

2. to secure (a line) on a cleat

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleat¹

1350–1400; Middle English clete wedge, cognate with Old High German klōz lump, ball, Dutch kloot; akin to clot

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleat¹

C14: of Germanic origin, compare Old High German chlōz clod, lump, Dutch kloot ball

Example Sentences

“When it started raining, that substance would start to rise. It would get stuck in your cleats, almost like caulking.”

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Or it’s Harris snapping a photo of Dicker, Scott and Ficken next to the Dicker’s famous fair-catch kick cleats on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Wearing size 18 cleats, Luke Sorensen might not be the best candidate to walk across a frozen lake and make it to the other side.

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Harris began walking laps at practice on Aug. 2, wearing a helmet with a visor and cleats, but has yet to progress further in his recovery.

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The player brought everything back but his school-issued cleats, so the coach sent him back for those.

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