cleat

American  

[kleet] / klit /

noun

• cleats
  plural

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.

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verb (used with object)

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

cleat British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to supply or support with a cleat or cleats

2. to secure (a line) on a cleat

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cleats
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cleat

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cleat cleats

In this instance, the stoppage lasted several minutes as Brazilian referee Raphael Claus and the Video Assistant Referee team studied Balogun’s cleat landing on top of Tarik Muharemović’s leg.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Crenshaw’s only score came on an 18-yard field goal off the cleat of senior kicker Heinz Lezema.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2024

A French cleat is best for holding the artwork against the wall.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 22, 2024

Garrett leaped at the wall and appeared to catch a spike from his left cleat in the wall’s padding as the ball went over.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 23, 2023

He circumnavigated the boat carefully, checking the mooring lines on each cleat as he went, kneeling to look at them closely.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Keeney talks about the “museum-grade” and “investment-grade” quality of the cleats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

Iguchi declined to say how much TTU paid for the cleats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

The cleats Shohei Ohtani wore during the Dodgers’ 2025 season opener in Japan could be yours if you’re willing to part with about $1 million.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

“Ever since I got here, the first impression of him was how good he was with people,” said veteran utility man Miguel Rojas, who hopes to become a manager after he hangs up his cleats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026

Mixed with sweat, the dust formed a paste that collected inside the boys’ cleats, gnawing blisters into their ankles.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John