Meaning

A strip of wood or iron fastened on transversely to something in order to give strength, prevent warping, hold position, etc..

Definitions by Sense

1. A strip of wood or iron fastened on transversely to something in order to give strength, prevent warping, hold position, etc.
2. A continuous metal strip, or angled piece, used to secure metal components.
3. (nautical) A device to quickly affix a line or rope, and from which it is also easy to release.
4. A protrusion on the bottom of a shoe or wheel meant for better traction.
5. An athletic shoe equipped with cleats.
6. To strengthen with a cleat.
7. (nautical) To tie off, affix, stopper a line or rope, especially to a cleat.

Example Sentences

[...] 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.

I had learned that cattle willingly walk down a ramp that has cleats to provide secure, nonslip footing.

Near-synonym: calk

He needs to put on five pieces of gear: his helmet, left glove, right glove, left cleat, and right cleat.

An inner floor over the whole area of the deck provides a space for all the cable and pipe runs. On one side the cables are cleated into a duct which is sealed against the ingress of water and oil; the pipe lines run underneath the opposite side floor.

Word Forms

• cleats
• cleating
• cleated

Synonyms for cleat

Related Words

When Should You Use Cleat?

Use cleat when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions