1. from the beginning, especially without relying on resources or other advantages; - Example: "he baked the torte from scratch" - Example: "she built her business up from scratch"
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
from scratch
adv 1: from the beginning, especially without relying on
resources or other advantages; "he baked the torte from
scratch"; "she built her business up from scratch"