A polyol is an organic compound containing multiple hydroxyl groups. The term “polyol” can have a slightly different meaning in food science and polymer chemistry. A molecule with more than two hydroxyl groups is a polyol, with three – a triol, and with four – a tetrol. By convention, polyols do not refer to compounds that contain other functional groups. Cellulose is a polymer with many alcohol groups, but it is not usually discussed as a polyol.