monkey around vs putter

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

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

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

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

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

monkey around (noun)	putter (noun)
	the iron normally used on the putting green
	a golfer who is putting

monkey around (verb)	putter (verb)
do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly	move around aimlessly
	do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly
	work lightly