Final answer:
The metric prefix for measuring a typical cell or bacterium is 'micro-', represented as 'µm' (micrometers), since cells generally range from one to several micrometers in size.
Step-by-step explanation:
The metric prefix most appropriately used with meter to describe the size of a typical cell or bacterium is the micro-meter (µm). A typical human red blood cell is about eight micrometers (eight µm) in diameter. A bacterium, being smaller, is often around one micrometer (one µm) in size. Microorganisms are generally measured in micrometers because this unit allows for a more convenient and understandable representation of their small dimensions, which typically range from one to several micrometers.