TITLE: Definition of an E-infinity algebra
QUESTION [42 upvotes]: Can anyone give me a plain-and-simple
definition of an E-infinity algebra without using
the words "operad," "ring spectrum," or
"stable homotopy"?
Sorry, but I honestly couldn't find it using
all on-line resources at my disposal.
Thanks!

REPLY [8 votes]: A completely explicit definition that works over any ring is given as Proposition 18 in the following preprint of Malte Dehling and Bruno Vallette that was posted on the arXiv today. http://arxiv.org/abs/1503.02701