Acyclic polyols having the general formula
HOCH2[CH(OH)]nCH2OH (formally derivable from an aldose by reduction of the carbonyl group).
Source:
PAC, 1995, 67, 1307. 'Glossary of class names of organic compounds and reactivity intermediates based on structure (IUPAC Recommendations 1995)' on page 1312 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199567081307)