monkey around vs monkey

monkey around is not a noun while monkey is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
monkey around	No	No	Yes	No
monkey	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, monkey around and monkey are synonyms defined as:

monkey around and monkey: do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly

Other synonyms of monkey around include mess around, muck about, muck around, potter, putter, tinker.

monkey around (noun)	monkey (noun)
	any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
	one who is playfully mischievous

monkey around (verb)	monkey (verb)
do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly	do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly
	play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly