cleat /kliːt/noun 5verb 2forms 3 noun5 •A strip of wood or iron fastened on transversely to something in order to give strength, prevent warping, hold position, etc.[...] the people of that island erected lofty spars along the seacoast, to which the look-outs ascended by means of nailed cleats, something as fowls go upstairs in a hen-house. — 1851 •An athletic shoe equipped with cleats.He needs to put on five pieces of gear: his helmet, left glove, right glove, left cleat, and right cleat. — 2020 •A protrusion on the bottom of a shoe or wheel meant for better traction. •A device to quickly affix a line or rope, and from which it is also easy to release. •A continuous metal strip, or angled piece, used to secure metal components. verb2 •To tie off, affix, stopper a line or rope, especially to a cleat. •To strengthen with a cleat. formscleated · cleating · cleats
