cleat

Everyday

1. A cleat is one of the hard studs on the bottom of sports shoes that stop you slipping on grass. tree →
2. Cleats (US, Canada) are sports shoes with these studs, such as football or soccer boots. tree →
3. A cleat is a T-shaped piece of metal or wood on a boat or dock that you tie a rope around. tree →

In the lessons

In PE and sport in the US and Canada, children wear cleats for soccer, football, baseball and lacrosse (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ: «football boots» with «studs»). On boats, sailors tie ropes to cleats to secure them. Phrases: «soccer cleats», «baseball cleats», «tie off to a cleat».

Examples

• Put on your cleats before soccer practice. tree →
• My cleats are covered in mud. tree →
• The cleats help me run on wet grass. tree →
• Take your cleats off before you come inside. tree →
• Baseball cleats have metal or plastic studs. tree →
• The sailor tied the rope to a cleat on the dock. tree →
• My new cleats are a size bigger. tree →
• You can't wear cleats on the gym floor. tree →

Note

Countable; mostly plural for shoes: «a pair of cleats». Mainly American and Canadian; in British English, «studs» are the bumps and «football boots» are the shoes.