This is the 13319th most frequent Spanish word.
quemaba
"Quemaba" means "was burning" or "used to burn."
In this sentence, 'quemaba' is used in the imperfect past tense to describe an ongoing action of the sun's heat burning intensely in the past.
El sol quemaba intensamente en el mediodía.
The sun burned intensely at midday.
Here, 'quemaba' is used to indicate an action in progress in the past of burning dry leaves as part of an activity of soil preparation.
Quemaba las hojas secas del jardín para preparar el suelo.
He was burning the dry leaves of the garden to prepare the soil.
In this sentence, 'quemaba' conveys how the wind metaphorically burned or hurt the faces of the walkers, indicating the intensity of its force in a pastel context.