channel-surf vs surf

channel-surf is not a noun while surf is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
channel-surf	No	No	Yes	No
surf	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, channel-surf and surf are synonyms defined as:

channel-surf (noun)	surf (noun)
	waves breaking on the shore

channel-surf (verb)	surf (verb)
switch channels, on television	switch channels, on television
	look around casually and randomly, without seeking anything in particular
	ride the waves of the sea with a surfboard