Cliff operads: a hierarchy of operads on words

Abstract: A new hierarchy of operads over the linear spans of $\delta$-cliffs, which are some words of integers, is introduced. These operads are intended to be analogues of the operad of permutations, also known as the associative symmetric operad. We obtain operads whose partial compositions can be described in terms of intervals of the lattice of $\delta$-cliffs. These operads are very peculiar in the world of the combinatorial operads since, despite to the relative simplicity for their construction, they are infinitely generated and they have nonquadratic and nonhomogeneous nontrivial relations. We provide a general construction for some of their quotients. We use it to endow the spaces of permutations, $m$-increasing trees, $c$-rectangular paths, and $m$-Dyck paths with operad structures. The operads on $c$-rectangular paths admit, as Koszul duals, operads generalizing the duplicial and triplicial operads.