cleat
/kliːt/ (bre, ipa) · /kliːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈklēt/ (ame, mw)
cleat — noun
- cleatsingular
- cleatsplural
1. one of the small raised points or ridges underneath a sports shoe that dig into
one of the small raised points or ridges underneath a sports shoe that dig into the ground to keep you from slipping on grass or turf
Mei checked every cleat on her football boots before the rain started.
collocation: check cleats; football cleats
One worn-down cleat on Amir's right boot made him slip on the wet grass.
Carlos screwed metal cleats into the bottom of his baseball shoes.
The referee told Fatima her boots were unsafe because two cleats were missing.
The new plastic cleats gave the striker much better grip on the muddy pitch.
用法筆記
In everyday speech, people often say 'cleats' to mean the whole shoe (see sense 3), but technically a cleat is just the individual stud on the sole.
常見錯誤
2. a small fitting fixed to the underside of a cycling shoe that clips into a match
a small fitting fixed to the underside of a cycling shoe that clips into a matching pedal, holding the foot firmly so it does not slip off during a ride
Dmitri adjusted the cleat on his left cycling shoe before the long weekend ride.
collocation: adjust a cleat; cycling shoe cleat
Yuki heard a loud click when her cleat snapped into the pedal.
cleat + snap/click into pedal
Kwame's worn cleat made it hard to pull his foot free at the junction.
The mechanic at the bike shop fitted fresh cleats to Svetlana's racing shoes.
- clip
informal; used among cyclists to refer to the cleat-and-pedal system as a whole
用法筆記
Do not confuse this cycling-specific fitting with the sports stud (sense 1). A bike cleat locks into a pedal mechanism; it is not designed to dig into the ground.
3. sports shoes that have small pointed studs fixed to the sole; people wear them i
sports shoes that have small pointed studs fixed to the sole; people wear them in games like football, baseball, and soccer for better grip on grass or turf
Lin left her football cleats by the back door, still caked with mud.
collocation: football cleats (meaning the shoes)
Ravi's new baseball cleats helped him sprint faster across the dry field.
collocation: baseball cleats
Priya forgot her soccer cleats and had to borrow a pair from a teammate.
Jamal bought a pair of bright red cleats for his first rugby practice.
The coach reminded the whole squad to bring their cleats for the afternoon match.
- studded boots
more common in British English; 'cleats' is the usual term in American English
- football boots
specifically for football (soccer); 'cleats' covers more sports
用法筆記
When people say 'cleats' without more detail, they almost always mean the shoes themselves (this sense), not the individual studs (sense 1). Context tells you which is meant.
常見錯誤
4. a T-shaped fitting made from metal or wood, fixed to a boat, ship, or dock, that
a T-shaped fitting made from metal or wood, fixed to a boat, ship, or dock, that you wrap a rope around to keep it tight and secure
The deckhand looped the mooring line around the cleat and pulled it fast.
collocation: mooring cleat; loop around a cleat
The skipper shouted at the crew to tie the rope to the stern cleat.
A rusty metal cleat on the old dock snapped under the strain of the heavy boat.
The fisherman wrapped the anchor line twice around the bow cleat for extra hold.
用法筆記
On a boat, cleats are placed at key points — bow, stern, and along the sides. Each cleat serves a different purpose: mooring, anchoring, or adjusting sails.
常見錯誤
5. a flat piece, either wooden or metal, fastened across a larger surface to make i
a flat piece, either wooden or metal, fastened across a larger surface to make it stronger, to hold another piece steady, or to keep it from shifting out of position
The carpenter nailed a wooden cleat across the back of the cabinet to stop it wobbling.
collocation: wooden cleat; nail a cleat
Two steel cleats held the heavy shelf firmly against the concrete wall.
The old floorboard stayed flat because the builder had screwed cleats underneath.
A short metal cleat kept the pipe from rattling against the frame every time the pump ran.
用法筆記
In carpentry and construction, a cleat is usually hidden from view — placed behind or underneath the surface it supports. Distinguish from the nautical cleat (sense 4), which is meant to have rope wound around it.
cleat — verb
- cleatpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cleats3rd person singular
- cleating-ing form
- cleatedpast simple
1. to attach small gripping studs or a reinforcing strip to an object such as a sho
to attach small gripping studs or a reinforcing strip to an object such as a shoe, a board, or a piece of equipment
The cobbler cleated the new football boots with a set of steel studs.
cleat + footwear; cleat as a transitive action verb
The factory cleats every pair of rugby shoes before they leave the production line.
Workers cleated the wooden ramp to stop people from slipping on rainy days.
The workshop cleated the back panel of the bookcase to give it extra strength.
- stud
as a verb, 'stud' is more common than 'cleat' for adding small projections to a surface
文法句型
cleat + something
用法筆記
This verb is rare and mostly used in manufacturing or carpentry settings. In everyday speech, people say 'put cleats on' or 'fit with cleats' rather than using the verb 'cleat.'
常見錯誤
2. to fasten a rope or line by winding it around a cleat, typically on a boat or do
to fasten a rope or line by winding it around a cleat, typically on a boat or dock, so that it stays firmly in place
The crew member cleated the mooring line as the ferry edged alongside the pier.
cleat + mooring line; nautical usage
The captain told the young sailor to cleat the loose rope before the wind caught it.
The young deckhand quickly cleated the anchor line and waved to the waiting passengers on shore.
The dock worker cleated the bow rope and signalled for the engine to cut.
文法句型
cleat + something (rope, line)
用法筆記
This verb is almost always used in boating or sailing contexts. The object is typically a rope, line, or sheet. It is rarely used in everyday conversation outside nautical settings.