answer vs respond

answer is a noun but respond is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
answer	Yes	No	Yes	No
respond	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, respond is a hypernym of answer; that is, respond is a word with a broader meaning than answer:

Other hypernyms of answer include react.

As verbs, respond is a hypernym of answer; that is, respond is a word with a broader meaning than answer:

Other hypernyms of answer include react.

As verbs, answer and respond are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of answer include reply.

answer (noun)	respond (noun)
a nonverbal reaction
the speech act of replying to a question
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem
the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims

answer (verb)	respond (verb)
give the correct answer or solution to	show a response or a reaction to something
respond to a signal	respond favorably or as hoped
understand the meaning of	react verbally
react to a stimulus or command
react verbally
give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)
be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of
match or correspond
be liable or accountable
be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity