joke vs clown

joke and clown both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
joke	Yes	No	Yes	No
clown	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, clown is a hyponym of joke; that is, clown is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than joke:

Other hyponyms of joke include antic, clown around.

joke (noun)	clown (noun)
a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement	a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior
activity characterized by good humor	a rude or vulgar fool
a triviality not to be taken seriously
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

joke (verb)	clown (verb)
act in a funny or teasing way	act as or like a clown
tell a joke; speak humorously