clowning vs prank

clowning and prank both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
clowning	Yes	No	No	No
prank	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, clowning and prank are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of clowning include buffoonery, frivolity, harlequinade, japery.

clowning (noun)	prank (noun)
acting like a clown or buffoon	a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement
a comic incident or series of incidents	acting like a clown or buffoon

clowning (verb)	prank (verb)
	dress up showily
	dress or decorate showily or gaudily