1. athletic shoes with projecting pieces on the sole for better grip on grass or dirt
2. the projecting pieces themselves on the bottom of athletic shoes
3. metal or wooden fittings on a ship or dock used for securing ropes
Usage: nautical

Examples

• The soccer players wore cleats to prevent slipping on the wet field.
• She bought new baseball cleats for the upcoming season.
• The cleats on his football shoes were caked with mud.
• One of the cleats broke off during the game.
• The sailor tied the rope around the cleats on the dock.
• Metal cleats secured the boat to the pier.