sleeping vs dormant

sleeping is a noun but dormant is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
sleeping	Yes	Yes	No	No
dormant	No	Yes	No	No

As adjectives, sleeping and dormant are synonyms defined as:

sleeping (noun)	dormant (noun)
the suspension of consciousness and decrease in metabolic rate
quiet and inactive restfulness
the state of being asleep

sleeping (adjective)	dormant (adjective)
lying with head on paws as if sleeping	(of e.g. volcanoes) not erupting and not extinct
	in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
	inactive but capable of becoming active
	lying with head on paws as if sleeping