Delia is defined in new edition of dictionary

Delia Smith's place in the British psyche receives formal acknowledgement today with the inclusion in a new dictionary of her first name as an addition to the English language.

The word "Delia" is defined in the latest edition of the Collins' English Dictionary as "the recipes or style of cooking of British cookery writer Delia Smith. A Delia dish".

It was listed because it appeared 700 times in the 418-million word database of English words and phrases from which Collins compiles its dictionary. Examples included the act of "doing a Delia", used when Sophia Loren published a cookery book, "a Delia dish", "Delia power", and the "anti-Delia, anti-Aga backlash". Charlie Dimmock was also described as the "Delia of gardening". According to Collins, "Delia" was one of the most frequently used "individual name checks" in the English language.

Ms Smith had already appeared in the dictionary under a biographical entry but Jeremy Butterfield, editor of the volume, said her second entry was unique in the 2,000-page book as a new generic name.

It is an indicator of the scale of success achieved by the millionaire who got an insight into the food business first as a dishwasher and then as a waitress.

After selling 14 million books, the Ms Smith was quietly pleased with the latest work to carry her name. "Getting a definition in a dictionary is not bad for someone who can't spell," she said.