operad

In mathematics, an operad is a structure that consists of abstract operations, each one having a fixed finite number of inputs (arguments) and one output, as well as a specification of how to compose these operations. Given an operad O, one defines an algebra over O to be a set together with concrete operations on this set that behave just like the abstract operations of O. For instance, there is a Lie operad L such that the algebras over L are precisely the Lie algebras; in a sense L abstractly encodes the operations that are common to all Lie algebras. An operad is to its algebras as a group